CR Question

[SilverAurora]

<p>I had trouble understanding this passage and a question of this passage. Can someone explain it to me?</p>

<p>I only typed up the first two paragraphs since I’m pretty sure the answer is in the second paragraph.</p>

<p>

The pragmatic method is primarily a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable. Is the world one or many?—fated or free?—material or spiritual? The pragmatic method attempts to evaluate a notion by tracing its practical consequences. What difference would it practically make to anyone if this notion rather than that notion were true? If no practical difference whatever can be traced, then the alternatives mean practically the same thing, and all dispute is idle. Whenever a dispute is serious, we ought to be able to show some practical difference that must follow from one side or the other’s being right.</p>

<p>A glance at the history of the idea will show you still better what pragmatism means. The term is derived from the Greek word pragma, meaning action, from which our words ‘practice’ and ‘practical’ come. It was first introduced into philosophy by Mr. Charles Peirce in 1878. In an article entitled ‘How to Make Our Ideas Clear,’ Mr. Peirce, after pointing out that our beliefs are really rules for action, said that to develope a thought’s meaning, we need only determine what action it produces. No distinction among ideas, however subtle, is so fine as to consist in anything but a possible difference of practice. To attain perfect clarity about an idea, then, we need only consider what practical effects that idea may involve—what sensations we are to expect if it is true, and what reactions we must prepare.

</p>

<p>As used in the passage, “fine” most nearly means
<a href=“A”>indent</a> fragile[/indent]
<a href=“b”>indent</a> healthy[/indent]
<a href=“c”>indent</a> meaningful[/indent]
<a href=“d”>indent</a> satisfactory[/indent]
<a href=“e”>indent</a> discerning[/indent]</p>

[SATwriter]

<p>It’s (E). And you’re right, you only need the 2nd paragraph.</p>

<p>Many vocab-in-context questions have a synonym or related word in the same sentence or surrounding sentences. The clues are “subtle” and “distinction.” “Discerning” means “discriminating” or “recognizing as distinct.”</p>