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Taka Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
confidence
The intellectual transformation associated with the Scientific Revolution led to a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature and its control, a development which is fundamental to an understanding of the importance of science in modern society.
About the part in red, is it:
(1)a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature+a new confidence in its control
or
(2)a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature+a new confidence in the value of its control
?
About the part in red, is it:
(1)a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature+a new confidence in its control
or
(2)a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature+a new confidence in the value of its control
?
Top answer
The sentence is confusing: I think it's control of the nature and not of the investigation ...
- The sentence is confusing: I think it's control of the nature and not of the investigation ...
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10 Answers
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The sentence is confusing:
I think it's control of the nature and not of the investigation ...
I think it's control of the nature and not of the investigation ...
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Marius HancuI think it's control of the nature and not of the investigation ...? What do you mean? Which is your pick; (1) or (2)?
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led to a new confidence in the value of the
investigation of nature and to a new confidence in the value
(importance) of controlling the nature
investigation of nature and to a new confidence in the value
(importance) of controlling the nature
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Marius Hanculed to a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature and to a new confidence in the control of the natureSo, it's (1).
OK, let's see how other people see it.
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Changed/edited my opinion a bit. See above. But the original it's confusing. It should be changed.
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Marius HancuChanged/edited my opinion a bit. See above. But the original it's confusing. It should be changed.So, it's now closer to (2). I see.
I wonder how the teachers here whose first language is English see the sentence...
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It is a little ambiguous. Grammatically, I'm not sure it would be possible to choose between 1 and 2. But in terms of meaning, I find #1 more likely, since I'm not sure how the value of controlling nature could change, after the "scientific revolution".
MrP
MrP
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MrPedanticIt is a little ambiguous. Grammatically, I'm not sure it would be possible to choose between 1 and 2. But in terms of meaning, I find #1 more likely, since I'm not sure how the value of controlling nature could change, after the "scientific revolution".I was even told by another native speaker that it was:
MrP
led to a new
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It's very difficult to see how "a new confidence in the value of the investigation of the control of nature" could be "a development which is fundamental to an understanding of the importance of science in modern society"!
So I would class it as "improbable". (But then, I've seen even more improbable interpretations of this and that emerge in these forums from time to time, so another mem
So I would class it as "improbable". (But then, I've seen even more improbable interpretations of this and that emerge in these forums from time to time, so another mem
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a new confidence in the value of the investigation of nature and its control
= a new confidence in the value of (the investigation of nature) and (the control of nature) (its = of nature)
= a new confidence in the value of [(the investigation and control) of nature]
I'd say the second. There's value in investigating nature. There's value in controlling nature. Or so it
= a new confidence in the value of (the investigation of nature) and (the control of nature) (its = of nature)
= a new confidence in the value of [(the investigation and control) of nature]
I'd say the second. There's value in investigating nature. There's value in controlling nature. Or so it
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