What is the significance of the floating island of Laputa?

The floating island of Laputa in "Gulliver's Travels" serves as a powerful symbol of the disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The inhabitants, known as Laputans, are depicted as highly educated yet absurdly impractical, engrossed in abstract theories and scientific pursuits that have little relevance to everyday life. They focus on mathematics and music at the expense of practical governance and human needs, resulting in chaotic societal conditions.

This disconnect is vividly illustrated through their ability to control the island’s movement, allowing them to hover over lands and impose their will upon the people below, rather than engaging in any meaningful way with those communities. The satire extends to the critique of contemporary science and philosophy during Swift's time, implying that intellectual pursuits can become futile if not grounded in reality or practicality. Thus, the significance of Laputa lies in its commentary on the dangers of an overly theoretical approach to knowledge without practical application, making option C the most fitting choice.