In persons with astigmatism, the clear outer layer of the eye is deformed in a way that impairs and sometimes distorts vision. The elongated figures in the paintings of El Greco (1541–1614) were so unusual that some critics sought to explain them by hypothesizing that, without knowing it, El Greco had an astigmatism that caused everything to appear to him in the distorted way that was characteristic of his painted figures.
The proposed explanation is most vulnerable to the criticism that it fails to
A. establish that during the period in which El Greco lived, there was any correction available to those who did realize their vision was distorted
B. provide evidence that astigmatism was common in the 1500s and 1600s
C. consider that the critics who proposed the explanation might have suffered from astigmatism
D. consider the effect of the hypothesized astigmatism on El Greco's perception of his own paintings
E. allow for the possibility that artists see the world differently than do nonartists
Doubt- Between options D and E.
This is a very tricky question.
Let's try to understand the argument and the options.
Astigmatism- eye defect- the clear outer layer of the eye is deformed in a way that impairs and sometimes distorts vision.
The elongated figures in the paintings of El Greco (1541–1614) were unusual
some critics sought to explain the paintings by hypothesizing that, without knowing it, El Greco had astigmatism that caused everything to appear to him in the distorted way that was characteristic of his painted figures.
We need to find the flaw in the argument.
The critics say that El Greco had astigmatism. Everything he saw appeared distorted to him and that was characteristic of his painted figures.
Let’s assume that El Greco had astigmatism. In that case, he sees everything elongated. Including the canvas and his paintings. So if he draws a circle, that will appear elongated to him. Hence, the paintings cannot be proof that he has astigmatism. Even if El Greco had astigmatism, his paintings will look normal to others and elongated to El Graco. The critics fail to consider this. Therefore the critics’ hypothesis is vulnerable to criticism.
This is what is stated in Option D
D. consider the effect of the hypothesized astigmatism on El Greco's perception of his own paintings
Critics fail to consider the effect of the hypothesized astigmatism on El Greco's perception of his own paintings.
E. allow for the possibility that artists see the world differently than do nonartists
The argument is not related how artists see the world differently. The hypothesis is that El Graco had astigmatism and his paintings are proof to that. It fails to consider his perception of his own paintings. Eliminate.