PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 18
Question: 18
A Pragmatic Approach
William James's Pragmatism (1907) has been called the 1 greatest and best book of American philosophy. The array of lectures that would become Pragmatism 2 encompass James's adaptation of the great Pragmatists—such as Charles Peirce—and adds a uniquely human element to the philosophical movement. 3 His work in psychology and religion laid the foundation for how theoretical work intersects with the concrete work of living.
In a way, pragmatism turns the philosophical endeavor on its head and 4 attacked the importance of its big questions. Philosophy is traditionally concerned with the big questions: What is the meaning of life? Are there many worlds like this one or only this one? What if none of us exist? Pragmatism is concerned with these questions as well, but it is equally concerned with another question: So what? Pragmatism is concerned, with what difference a particular truth means in the world 5 with practice.
Let's consider a basic example. Say you are stressed about an upcoming math test. You're afraid you might not get the grade you want, and the fear of it 6 keeps you up at night. Rather than asking, "Will you do well on this test?", the Pragmatists will want to know instead "What difference does it make whether you do well or poorly on the test?" If your answer is, "Well, no difference, I guess," then you've got 7 one. If your answer is, "I won't be able to get an A in the class!" then you've got another and a whole other series of questions. By constantly asking "So what?", the pragmatic approach helps to situate problems in their practice and their consequences rather than 8 abstracting.
The approach is especially interesting for life's big questions. One of James's particular favorites was, "Is life fated or free?" In other words, do we make our own choices, or are our lives completely predetermined? Well, for James, the question is an interesting but fundamentally irrelevant one. 9 Whether there is a cosmic order to our lives or not, we still have to live them responsibly, so it doesn't 10 differ whether our lives are "fated or free," because the distinction won't create practical differences.
These are two relatively simple examples of the pragmatic method in action, but give it a try yourself. Next time something is really stressing you out, ask the simple question: What difference does it make if that does happen? You may find that the real consequences are what help you to see through the problem, establish a plan, or 11 forgot about the issue entirely.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Nouns and pronouns change in the answer choices, so this question tests precision. The underlined word or phrase must refer to something owned by the reader, as the underlined portion follows the phrase you've got. Therefore, it must be a noun or pronoun. Eliminate (D) because approaching is a verb. Choices (A), (B), and (C) all contain nouns or pronouns that could work in context. Choices (A) and (B) provide pronouns. These pronouns do not make it clear what you've got, so eliminate (A) and (B). Choice (C) provides a noun to indicate what you've got, so it is precise. The correct answer is (C).