#27 - Must Be True, Subject Perspective

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation
(See the complete passage discussion here: lsat/viewtopic.php?t=10524)

The correct answer choice is (D)

This question asks us to identify a change of perspective that would make the radical critics’ view more agreeable with Dostoyevsky’s view. As you analyze each answer choice, ask yourself if Dostoyevsky would endorse the perspective described in it.

Answer choice (A): As someone who regards reality as an inherently subjective experience, Dostoyevsky is unlikely to sanction a view that draws an even sharper distinction between reality and fantasy.

Answer choice (B): We already know from the third paragraph that the radical critics put clarity of purpose ahead of formal aspects when evaluating a literary work. Dostoyevsky regards such utilitarian claims as a “contradiction in terms” (line 33), suggesting that his attitude towards the radical critics is unlikely to change.

Answer choice (C): Even if the critics acknowledged the importance of eliminating elements of concrete reality from literary works, Dostoyevsky’s attitude toward their views is unlikely to soften. After all, Dostoyevsky considers reality to be foundational to all literature. Although his version of reality is necessarily subjective, Dostoyevsky would never sanction eliminating elements of concrete reality from literary works.

Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. Recall that the radical critics considered the formal aspects of a work to be of secondary importance, which struck Dostoyevsky as a “contradiction in terms” (line 33). Clearly, Dostoyevsky would be more accepting of their views if they recognized the full significance of good writing, which—to Dostoyevsky—is the epitome of artistic merit.

Answer choice (E): Regardless of how well the radical critics explain their demand that reality be depicted as it is, such a demand is meaningless to Dostoyevsky (line 17), and his attitude towards their views is unlikely to change.

[jax]

Hiya,

I have a question about [C] -- I read that answer choice as if the radical critics would not take such a strict view on reality ("eliminate elements of concrete reality") in literary work because radical critics had a strict view of reality; they demanded that reality be depicted "as it is." But Dostoyevsky believed that the strict belief of depicting reality "as it is" does not work because reality itself is dependent on individual experiences AND also believed that even within "reality" there exists the fantastic.

[Luke Haqq]

Hi jax!

Suppose we start assuming (C) is true, that the radical critics "acknowledge the importance of eliminating elements of concrete reality from literary works." The question is, would this soften Dostoevsky's attitude towards those critics? I can understand why you focus on the "as it is" focus on reality by the radical critics and the "concrete" reality language in (C).

However, Dostoevsky's approach wasn't to eliminate concrete reality (starting at line 10: "As a realist, he never doubted that reality was literature’s crucial source. But his understanding of reality went deeper than the one prevailing among radical critics..."). Rather, the passage suggests he adds fantasy on top of an appreciation for reality. So if the radical critics started advocating for eliminating concrete reality from literary works, this wouldn't soften Dostoevsky's attitude--to the contrary, he would argue that they should not eliminate it but instead should come to understand that reality also includes the fantastic (around lines 22-24: "Within perceptible "reality" exists another sphere, the fantastic, which is not in any way superfluous to a writer’s concerns").

Hope that helps clarify your concerns with (C)!