Never Accept Anything as True that you Do Not Clearly Know to be So; that is, Carefully Avoid Jumping to Conclusions

Reading Passage Question

Never accept anything as true that you do not clearly know to be so; that is, carefully avoid jumping to conclusions, and include nothing in judgments, other than what presents itself so clearly and distinctly to the spirit that you would never have any occasion to doubt it. Then, divide each of the difficulties being examined into as many parts as can be created and would be required to better resolve them. Order your thoughts, by starting with the simplest ideas, which are the easiest to comprehend, to advance little by little, by degrees, up to the most complex ideas, even believing that an order exists among those which do not naturally follow one another. And last, always make deductions so complete, and reviews so general, so as to be assured of omitting nothing.

When I was younger, I had studied a bit—in the field of philosophy, logic, and in the field of math, geometric analysis and algebra—the three arts or sciences that seemed as though they should contribute something to my methodological approach. But while examining these fields, I noticed that, in logic, syllogisms and the bulk of other logical theorems serve only to explain to others the things that one already knows, or even to speak without judgment of things that one doesn‘t know, rather than to teach others anything; and, although logic contains, in effect, many true and just precepts, there are yet among these so many others mixed in, which are superfluous or refutable, that it is almost sickening to separate one from the other.

As for geometric analysis and modern algebra, in addition to the fact that they don‘t treat anything except abstract ideas, which seem to be of no use whatsoever, geometry is always so restricted to the consideration of figures that it can‘t stretch the intellect without exhausting the imagination; and algebra subjects one to certain rules and numbers, so that it has become a confused and obscure art that troubles the spirit rather than a science that cultivates it.

All of this made me think that it was necessary to look for some other methodological approach which, comprising the advantages of these three, was at the same time exempt from their defaults. And, just as the multitude of laws often provides rationalization for vice, such that any State is better ruled if, having but a few vices, it closely monitors them, thus likewise, instead of following the great number of precepts which compose logic, I thought that I would have enough with the four preceding, as long as I made a firm and constant resolution never – not even once – to neglect my adherence to them.

“Never accept anything as true that you do not clearly know to be so; that is, carefully avoid jumping to conclusions” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. According to the passage, the author gave up the study of logic. He did so for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

1. He did not gain sufficient knowledge to impart his learning to others.
2. He was unable to separate valid logical theories from those which seemed invalid.
3. he could not understand the rational methodology upon which logic is based.
4. He did not learn anything new from his philosophical and analytical studies.
5. He found it very difficult to distinguish between accurate and superfluous precepts

2. According to the passage, which of the following statements are true about geometry?

1. Geometric analysis is not useful for a logical methodology.
2. Geometry focuses too narrowly on shapes and lines.
3. Geometry is largely visual, so comprehension requires both intellect and imagination.

1. II only
2. I and II
3. I, II, and III
4. III only
5. None of the above

3. The author would be LEAST likely to agree with which of the following statements?

1. Logic is an inappropriate field of research for young scholars.
2. A scholar should always treat the subject of his or her study in its entirety.
3. Orderly study is based on the principle that a whole is the sum of its parts.
4. Teaching is one of the motivations for studying abstract ideas and theories.
5. Geometric analysis almost entirely concerns itself with the treatment of abstract ideas

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