Historians of ideas debate whether to study canonical Great Thinkers or to examine broader intellectual contexts. Quentin Skinner argued that texts must be understood as interventions in specific historical debates, not as timeless contributions to perennial problems. Reading Locke on property without understanding seventeenth-century English political context, Skinner claims, guarantees misinterpretation. Critics counter that some ideas transcend their contexts—Plato still speaks to us despite historical distance.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that
methodological choices in intellectual history may involve trade-offs between contextual and transhistorical understanding
all historians agree on the proper method for interpreting historical texts
historical context is completely irrelevant to understanding any thinker
Skinner believed texts should be read as timeless contributions to perennial problems
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. The passage shows competing methodological approaches with different strengths.
- Context clues: Skinner emphasizes historical context; critics argue some ideas "transcend their contexts."
- Meaning: These competing priorities suggest trade-offs between approaches.
- Verify: The debate structure implies no single method captures everything.
đź’ˇ Strategy: When a passage presents competing viewpoints, the inference often involves acknowledging the tension.
Choice B is incorrect because the Skinner-critics debate shows historians disagree. Choice C is incorrect because Skinner explicitly argues context is crucial. Choice D is incorrect because Skinner argued the opposite—texts are historical interventions.