Understanding 'Elusive' in Philosophy Questions

The question asks us to find the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word 'elusive' as used in the sentence: "There are many elusive questions in philosophy".

Defining 'Elusive'

'Elusive' means difficult to find, catch, achieve, or remember. In the context of the sentence, it suggests that philosophical questions are often hard to grasp, understand, or find definitive answers for.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at each option to see which one best matches the meaning of 'elusive' in this specific context:

• 1. clear: This word means easy to perceive, understand, or solve. It is the opposite of 'elusive'. Philosophical questions are often complex, not clear.
• 2. baffling: This word means confusing or difficult to understand. This meaning aligns very well with 'elusive' when talking about challenging questions in philosophy that are hard to figure out.
• 3. paramount: This word means more important than anything else; supreme. While philosophical questions can be important, 'paramount' doesn't describe the nature of being difficult to understand.
• 4. truthful: This word means telling the truth or factually correct. While some philosophical inquiry aims for truth, 'truthful' does not capture the essence of being difficult to grasp or elusive.

Conclusion on Meaning

Based on the analysis, 'baffling' is the word that most closely matches the meaning of 'elusive' in the given sentence about philosophical questions. Both words suggest a sense of difficulty in understanding or finding a clear answer.