Drawing Inferences from the Excerpt on Science and Logic

The question asks us to draw an inference based on the provided excerpt about science, logic, and intuition. An inference is a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. We need to examine each option and see which one is directly supported or logically follows from the text.

Analyzing the Excerpt's Key Points

Let's break down the main arguments presented in the excerpt:

• Science is not primarily logical.
• The success of science cannot be explained by viewing it only as logical.
• Science creates concepts using various types of intuition (physical, mathematical).
• Science cannot be reduced to logic.
• Mathematics also cannot be fully reduced to logic.
• Descartes failed in creating physics because he thought physics could be reduced to and was part of mathematics.

Evaluating the Options

Now let's look at each option in light of the excerpt:

Option 1: Science and mathematics can be reduced to logic.

• The excerpt explicitly states the opposite: "Science cannot be reduced to logic. Even mathematics couldn't be..."
• Therefore, this option is incorrect as it contradicts the text.

Option 2: Scientific concepts are created using different types of intuition.

• The excerpt states: "Science creates its concepts in ways that draws upon different types of intuition. For example, in physics some concepts are physically intuitive while some are mathematically intuitive."
• This statement directly matches the information in the excerpt. It is a direct inference that can be drawn.

Option 3: Success of science can be explained only if we consider it as something logical.

• The excerpt states: "the success of science cannot be explained if we look at science primarily as something logical."
• This option contradicts the text by saying success *can* be explained *only if* it's logical, whereas the text says it *cannot* be explained *if* seen *primarily* as logical.
• Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option 4: Descartes and Newton created physics.

• The excerpt mentions Descartes tried but failed (due to his mistake) and Newton succeeded in creating physics.
• While Newton is credited, the excerpt focuses on Descartes' failure compared to Newton's success regarding a specific approach (reducing physics to mathematics). It doesn't explicitly state that *both* together created physics in a general sense, nor is it as direct an inference as Option 2, which is a direct statement from the text.
• Based *strictly* on the excerpt's primary points and direct statements, Option 2 is a much stronger and more accurate inference.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of each option against the provided text, the most accurate inference that can be drawn is that scientific concepts rely on different types of intuition, as stated directly in the excerpt.