PrepTest 112, Section 3, Question 17
The purpose of a general theory of art(50 more words not shown)
The statements above, if true,(8 more words not shown)
- AAny general theory(14 more words not shown)
- BA general theory(13 more words not shown)
- CAny theory of(15 more words not shown)
- DNo premodern general(11 more words not shown)
- ENo premodern general(17 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Explaining paintings and sculptures isn't enough if the theory is supposed to explain every art.
The first sentence sets that demanding purpose. A general theory must explain every aesthetic feature found in any of the arts. The passage then says every premodern general theory misses at least one feature of music, even if it does well with painting and sculpture. Missing one required part would prevent complete success.
But is music included in the arts for purposes of this claim? That question matters. If it is, those theories fall short. If it isn't, their failure to explain music wouldn't by itself disqualify them. We don't need to settle a debate over music's status to follow those two possibilities.
What we’re looking for
The question asks for what is most strongly supported. I'd look for an answer preserving that qualification: these premodern theories cannot meet their stated purpose if the musical features they miss belong to art.
Working the answers
- A
A theory's purpose doesn't guarantee that it succeeds. A theory could explain painting well and fail to explain sculpture, making it incomplete. We aren't given a rule that success in one of those fields automatically produces success in the other.
- B
Music isn't necessarily the whole task. A theory could explain every musical feature yet miss something in painting, sculpture, or another art. The stated purpose is to cover every feature in all the arts. Covering one field wouldn't establish complete success.
- C
The passage describes every premodern general theory, not every possible theory with a particular primary focus. A later theory might focus mostly on painting and sculpture while still explaining all the musical features. We haven't been told that the focus itself makes the musical failure inevitable for every theory.
- DCorrect
'Unless music is not art' preserves the qualification we noticed. If music is art, the theories' purpose requires them to explain all its aesthetic features. Every premodern theory misses some such feature, so none achieves that purpose.
To escape that obstacle, music would have to fall outside the category the theory is required to explain. Even then, success wouldn't be guaranteed: a theory might miss a feature of another art. D doesn't promise success when music is excluded. It says the theories cannot succeed without that exclusion, which follows from their stated failure with music.
- E
Failing to explain some feature of music doesn't mean failing to explain every feature unique to music. A theory could explain several distinctive musical features and still miss one. The passage doesn't identify which features are missed or say that the theories explain only features shared with painting and sculpture.
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