Chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the greatest improvements have been made, and may be made; it is on that
account that I have made it my peculiar study; but at the same time I have not neglected the other branches of science. . . . If your wish is to become really a man of science, and not a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch of natural philosophy, including mathematics. Which topic best relates to the theme developed in this passage? A. Learning as an art form
B. The power of nature
C. The pursuit of knowledge
D. The necessity of chemistry
The advisor is giving a speech about how to become a "man of science," and s/he is arguing that in order to become one, one should study every branch of natural philosophy and not just one specialty. Natural philosophy was a term used during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to refer to Natural Sciences before science emerged as an institutionalized and rational method of studying the reality. The advisor also contrasts the concept of "man of science" with "petty experimentalist," which is that that one would become if you do not apply yourself to the study of every branch of science. Here, the speaker is stressing the importance of learning about different fields of study, in order to think out of the box and make connections between different topics that, other way, could not be made. This is the main difference between a man of science, who searches for true knowledge, and petty experimentalists, who just apply themselves to a particular field of study.
Explanation: In the given excerpt we can see how the speaker explains that how, even when he has specialized on chemistry, he has also study the other branches of science, and he says that to become a man of science, one should learn about every branch. From the given options, the topic that best relates to the theme developed in the passage, is the corresponding to option C: The pursuit of knowledge.
