Idealistic economists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries modeled their conceptions of economic theory on theoretical physics, rather than mathematics. Because theoretical physics usually extends the results of real-world observations, these idealists derived their theories through the extension of real-world economic observations, which occasionally led to bold claims that violated the axioms of mathematics; mathematical rules had not yet been able to account for a wide range of physical phenomena. Consider, for example, the work of James Clerk Maxwell, who, in the middle of the 19th century, described the electromagnetic field, a physical phenomena, by means of eight mathematical equations. The attempt to mathematically interpret the physical world immediately caused controversy; critics raised a number of questions unable to be answered through the application of mathematic formulas, which often seemed to hold true only in an abstract, perfectly consistent, universe.
As a result, more realistic economists of the time were caught between two models, unable to completely concede to the logical rigor underlying mathematical theories that do not always predict real-world results, but increasingly unwilling to join with the idealists to base their theories on observations when the extension of such observations violated mathematical models. However, from the middle of the twentieth century onward, as the mathematical equations used to predict real-world events have increasingly included variables that account for previously-unaccounted for factors, economists have been able to incorporate mathematics more fluidly into their work, forming the contemporary construction of economic theory. Building on the work of their predecessors, modern economists, a diverse group tied together by the study of a subject both tested by differences in methodologies and tried by differences in ideologies, are able to incorporate complex mathematics into their theories with more confidence.
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of mathematical formulas that attempt to interpret the physical world?
(A) They have not always been able to predict real-world results.
(B) The attempt to apply them to the analysis of the electromagnetic field caused controversy.
(C) Such formulas, throughout history, have become more fluidly incorporated into theories of economics. your answer
(D) They are not violated by the theoretical extensions of real-world observations. correct
(E) They have increasingly included variables that account for previously unaccounted for factors.
My answer was C but the explanation says :
Choice C: From the middle of the twentieth century onward...economists have been able to incorporate mathematics more fluidly into their work.
Now my question is .....in C we use "throughout history" whereas in passage we use "middle of twentieth century onward" ......so middle of twentieth century is not exactly throughout history ...it is pretty recent when we talk about "throughout history" .....can someone help ?
As a result, more realistic economists of the time were caught between two models, unable to completely concede to the logical rigor underlying mathematical theories that do not always predict real-world results, but increasingly unwilling to join with the idealists to base their theories on observations when the extension of such observations violated mathematical models. However, from the middle of the twentieth century onward, as the mathematical equations used to predict real-world events have increasingly included variables that account for previously-unaccounted for factors, economists have been able to incorporate mathematics more fluidly into their work, forming the contemporary construction of economic theory. Building on the work of their predecessors, modern economists, a diverse group tied together by the study of a subject both tested by differences in methodologies and tried by differences in ideologies, are able to incorporate complex mathematics into their theories with more confidence.
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true of mathematical formulas that attempt to interpret the physical world?
(A) They have not always been able to predict real-world results.
(B) The attempt to apply them to the analysis of the electromagnetic field caused controversy.
(C) Such formulas, throughout history, have become more fluidly incorporated into theories of economics. your answer
(D) They are not violated by the theoretical extensions of real-world observations. correct
(E) They have increasingly included variables that account for previously unaccounted for factors.
My answer was C but the explanation says :
Choice C: From the middle of the twentieth century onward...economists have been able to incorporate mathematics more fluidly into their work.
Now my question is .....in C we use "throughout history" whereas in passage we use "middle of twentieth century onward" ......so middle of twentieth century is not exactly throughout history ...it is pretty recent when we talk about "throughout history" .....can someone help ?
