3,13,20,31,44,56,64,108,121,190,193,211,242,244 ==================================================== 花在研究上的钱 (37)*31"Moneyspent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results ofthat research are controversial." 花费在研究上的金钱总是很好的投资,即使研究结果有争论。 在大多数情况下,投资研究是有利的。甚至于某些result有争论的研究仍为我们人类的发展和深灰的进步做出了突出的贡献。但并不是对所有研究的投资都是有利的——当这种研究成果极有可能威胁到人类社会的发展和安全的时候,政府就应该慎重的进行投资。 人类社会就是在不断地探索中前进发展的,各个方面的研究不断拓宽着人们的视野,很多研究成果也造福于人类。例如对于登月技术的不断研究,是人类有机会登上月球,直视宇宙,这在以前是不可想象的。疫苗的研制使人们避免了许多严重的传播疾病,造福人类等等。 可是有些研究成果是具有争论性的,正是由于这种争论和不妥协,才能让人们永葆动力,继续研究,直到找出真相。Copernicus'sheliocentric conjecture 在当时引起很大的争论,人们都对他的研究嗤之以鼻。但经过后世科学家的不断研究,终于证实了它的理论,成为科学史上的一个飞跃。如果仅仅因为有争论而不去研究,那么就不会有后来的成果。 For another example, 人类的起源一直吸引着各个领域的不同科学家进行研究。不同的科学家有许多不同的假说,即使是在达尔文进化论已经被广泛认可的今天,仍有很多科学家提出质疑并保留自己的看法。至今科学界也没有真正的给人类起源下一个定论,所以人们会继续研究探索,如果这种研究得不到资金的支持,那么我们的探索不就半途而废,停滞不前了吗? 可是,当某些研究对人类社会的发展和安全有潜在的威胁时,我们应当谨慎的进行投资,有必要时,还应限制其发展。例如对于克隆人的研究,很可能导致伦理混乱,社会不稳定;例如核武器的研究,威胁到世界的和平局面。试想如果放任这些研究自由发展,也许会造成可怕的后果。 In conclusion, 花费在研究上的金钱,即使是研究结果有争议的时候,都是很好的投资。但是对于一些有潜在危险的研究来说,我们投资时应该慎重。
44"Governmentshould not fund any scientific research whose consequences, either medical orethical, are unclear."
==================================================== 现在vs长远(21)*56"Governments should focusmore on solving the immediate problems of today rather than trying to solve theanticipated problems of the future."
3."Itis more important to allocate money for immediate, existing social problemsthan to spend it on long-term research that might help futuregenerations."
211"Anydecision-whether made by government, by a corporation, or by an individualperson-must take into account future conditions more than presentconditions."
20"National governments should devote more of their social programs andservices to children than to adults."
当今社会的发展面临着来自方方面面的问题,解决好当前的问题当然是政府的首要工作。然而,这并不意味着政府就可以只顾眼前而不顾以后,而是应该在眼前利益和长远利益中取得平衡,否则,后果可能是灾难性的。 政府的首要任务,当然是大力解决好现在社会上存在的各种问题,例如住房紧张,温饱问题以及就业问题,因为这些问题直接关系着人们的切身利益和社会的稳定。 然而,我们不能只顾眼前而不顾长远。历史的经验已经告诉我们,这样做无异于作茧自缚,最终人类要付出惨重的代价。中国西北曾经是一片茂密的森林,它不仅阻挡了来自北面的寒风,还提供了良好的生态效益。然而,由于人们多年来的乱砍乱伐,现在的西北已经成为了一片荒漠。北方的冷风长驱直入,沙化面积不断扩大,严重威胁了周围数以万计的居民的生存,并对中国的生态环境造成不可逆的破坏。另外,某些工厂只顾眼前效益排放污水污染水体,对人们的健康造成了巨大的损害。其实,我们现在处理的很多棘手问题,都是由于以前不顾长远效益遗留下来的,而过过我们还是坚持这样的方式,问题只会越积越多。 政府应该努力在眼前问题和长远问题上找到一种平衡。例如,面临我们现在的资源紧缺问题,政府一方面可以满足眼前工业生产和居民生活的需要,一方面加大投资,研究开发新型替代能源。这样,既满足了当代人的需要,又给将来的能源问题做好了准备。(有时间写写屋顶花园:用地紧张与生态效益) In conclusion, 眼前问题市政府解决的首要问题,而同时政府也应该兼顾长远利益和后代的需求,这样人类社会才能够健康的发展下去。
==================================================== 拯救语言,动物,植物 *13"Many of the world's lesser-known languages are beinglost as fewer and fewer people speak them. The governments of countries inwhich these languages are spoken should act to prevent such languages frombecoming extinct." 开头:根据人类学家的统计,世界上有接近7000种语言,并预言它们中的一半将会在下世纪消亡。人们无法想象如果世界上只剩下一种或几种语言将会是多么的单调,所以他们想要保护那些濒临消亡的语言以阻止它们的消亡。然而,人们忘记了一点,那就是事物的存在和灭亡有其自身的发展规律,人为的干预往往会适得其反(go into reverse)。 正:语言和每个人的生活息息相关,同时,它也是一个民族历史和文明的重要载体。历史学家(historian)、人类学家、语言学家(linguist)通过对语言的研究来补充历史,丰富人类的文化宝库。语言的丧失给人类文化多样性造成了损失,同时也可能丢失了很多有价值的信息。 反:有些人认为政府可以让学校通过强制性学习来保护这个语种。或是鼓励一些少数民族的女性多生育以维持说本种语言的人数。这些方法都是不太可行的。前者会引起孩子的抵制情绪,也剥夺了他们选择不学习这种语言的权利。而后者更是没有考虑人口非正常增长(irregular population growth)所能带来的负面效果。 如果语言只作为一种形式而存在,只作为组成世界语言种类当中的一个数字而存在,那它就失去了语言存在的最基本的意义,那就是交流。这些濒临消亡的小语种只被民族内部少数人使用,这其实并不能帮助他们更好的与世界交流,而会造成信心闭塞,也会在一定程度上阻碍发展。 反:其实人们在其他方面已经意识到了人为善意的干预有时候是不符合自然和社会发展规律的。例如,以前发生了森林火灾(forest fires),人们总是为了保护森林而去帮助大自然灭火。但渐渐的人们发现,天然火灾有其存在的道理,为土壤提供丰富的养料,并且淘汰了一些不耐火的植物,打破原本可能脆弱的平衡关系而建立一种新的平衡,是有利于森林长远发展的。博物馆里陈列的原始farming tools记录了那段历史,可我们并没有要求某个种族为了保存农耕文化而继续使用它们,人类社会总是不断地向前发展,而我们不能总是停留在过去。 结尾:一种事物的灭亡必有其深刻的社会、历史原因,我们能做的就是真实的记录那些语言,而不是去努力保留它们,那样做也许会让我们的世界停滞不前。
121"Atvarious times in the geological past, many species have become extinct as aresult of natural, rather than human, processes. Thus, there is nojustification for society to make extraordinary efforts, especially at a greatcost in money and jobs, to save endangered species."
242"Societiesshould try to save every plant and animal species, regardless of the expense tohumans in effort, time, and financial well-being."
==================================================== (51)*64"Manypeople know how to attain success, but few know how to make the best use ofit." ====================================================(38)*190"As long as people in asociety are hungry or out of work or lack the basic skills needed to survive,the use of public resources to support the arts is inappropriate—and, perhaps,even cruel—when one considers all the potential uses of such money." 人们生活在社会中,首先要考虑的就是生存问题,这也是政府首先应该着力解决的问题。然而,艺术和物质并不是绝对对立的,政府应该根据本国或本地区的不同情况,寻求一种平衡。 生存问题固然重要,如失业,温饱等,都是长期存在的社会现实。这些问题也不可能在短期内迅速解决。如果古时候人们也是要等到解决所有战争、温饱问题后再发展艺术,那么也许那些绘画、音乐和文学作品和成果就不会流传下来了。同样,如果我们现在在这些生存问题完全解前,都不支持艺术的发展,那么也许,艺术的发展就要无限期的停滞下去了。 其实,有时候,艺术也会促进社会物质的发展,并给社会和个人提供强大的精神动力。当人们为眼前的失业而苦恼沮丧时,听一听贝多芬的命运交响曲吧!那铿锵有力的音符,深深地震撼了每一个观众的心,人们重拾信心,更加努力的寻找机会。当人们因为生活的困苦而轻生时,看一看梵高的向日葵吧!那充满朝气的蓬勃生命力,重燃了人们对生活的热爱和渴望!只有当一个社会中的人们拥有精神信仰的时候,他们才能有一种归属感,勇敢的面对一切挑战! 所以,艺术和物质不应该是一个二选一的问题。作为一个社会整体,发展往往是不平衡的。对于一个国家来说,可能有些地方的经济发展水平比较高,人们的生活也比较富足,而其他一些地方可能经济比较落后,人民生活比较清贫。这时候,政府完全可以对这来那个种情况采取不同的措施:对于第一种,政府可以将大量的资金投入发展艺术,而较少的资金用作物质方面的投资;而对于后一种情况,政府可以加大力量首先改善人们的物质生活水平,用较少的资金投入艺术,待到经济水平达到一定水平,再做即使的调整。In short, 艺术和物质应该是同时发展的,只是侧重可能不同。这样,既满足了物质富足地区人们的精神文化需要,促进艺术的发展,也满足了另一部分人的生存需要。 In conclusion, 物质和艺术对于我们都十分的重要,不能顾此失彼,而政府可以根据不同地区的实际情况,灵活分配。
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193"Itis not the headline-making political events but the seldom-reported socialtranformations that have the most lasting significance."
Group B: Individual and Group (Leaders/celebrities and society)
6,8,9,15,19,22,23,24,40,43,45,61,63,72,83,89,105,108,113,123,136,140,156,160,165,167,170,171,185,197,202,203,208,209,218,229
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理解社会文化特征
(44)*72"One can best understand the most important characteristics of a society by studying its major cities."
By studying its major cities, one can indeed learn some about the characteristics of a society. However, along with the process of globalization, the things we can learn are becoming rare. Also, these characteristics may not the true portrayal of that society as a whole.
然而,随着globalization的进程,同样的城市模式在不同的社会中被不断的复制。人们走在New York City, Tokyo and Hong Kong时,感受到的都是同样的现代化气息:拥挤的交通,摩天大楼和行色匆匆的人群。老城区随着现代化等的需要也渐渐消失,甚至有时候会分不清身处何处。地方文化渐渐被世界主流文化所同化。所以我们现在越来越难以从主要城市来了解这个社会的主要特征了。
In conclusion, 随着全球化的进程,主要城市已经越来越难以向人们展示一个社会区别于其他社会的最主要特征了。而农村,郊区以及社会中最主要群体的生活状态,才是这个社会的最真实反映。
(31)*203"The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines."
从一些hero or heroine身上,我们的确可以了解到这个社会所崇尚的特质,所追求的潮流,甚至是理想化的偶像。要了解整个社会的characteristics,还是要研究这个社会中占大多数的普通人的生活状态。
In conclusion,就像看一本书,我们只翻开一页,并不能很好的领会这本书的内涵;看一个人,我们只看外表,也不能正确的了解这个人的个性;而只看一个社会的hero and heroine,我们不能全面的了解这个社会的特征。
(5)*208"The way people look, dress, and act reveals their attitudes and interests. You can tell much about a society's ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people."
通过一个人的look, dress and act的确在一定程度上可以反映出这个人的attitudes and interests.但有时这种反应是不准确的甚至是错误的。所以,要想通过appearance and behavior来判断society’s ideas and values 就更不可靠了。
面试的时候,面试官也倾向于要那些看上去比较整洁的人,因为这样的人给人的第一感觉就是善于管理自己,麻利并且有效率。当我们看到一个穿西装的人,我们会觉得他比较严谨;当我们见到一个爱笑的人,就会觉得他很阳光随和,可能比较喜欢开玩笑。这些都是一个人给我们的第一印象,所以,有时候,从人们的look,dress and act,可以大体了解这个人的attitudes and interests.
However, as the old saying goes, ‘A long road tests a horse's strength and a long task proves a man's heart’.仅从一个人的外在表现是很难准确推知他真正的attitudes and interests的。A person who is simply dressed may be a millionaire. Also, the smile on one’s face may be a velvet paw. 所以表面现象有时候误导人们的判断,so we should never ‘judge a book by its cover.’
由以上的论述可知,我们从一个人的look, dress and attitude 都不能准确的推知这个人的内心,我们又怎么用他来判断整个社会的ideas and values呢?
所以,要了解一个社会的ideas and attitudes, 只了解表象是不够的,我们应该深入研究,了解社会中大众内在的的价值取向,并从历史、宗教多方面出发,深入研究。这样才能真正全面而透彻的了解一个社会。
In conclusion, 就像看一本书,我们只翻开一页,并不能很好的领会这本书的内涵;看一个人,我们只看look, dress and act,也不能正确的了解这个人的attitudes and interests;而只看一个社会的appearance and behavior,我们不能全面的了解这个社会的ideas and values。
(41)*63"To truly understand your own culture—no matter how you define it—requires personal knowledge of at least one other culture, one that is distinctly different from your own."
I totally agree that …因为有助于客观的认识自己的文化,开阔自己的眼界,扬长避短。
Only through the comparison or contrast between it and another culture,we can make a truly understand of one culture: including the recognition of both its merits, limitations and even deficiencies.
However, the growth of an individual is inevitably influenced by the culture. In this case, one could rarely obtain an objective understanding of the culture.(会忽略了自己文化的独特特色,没有意识到价值,因为在你的文化中很普遍Chinese New Year’s Eve )(另一方面,如果这个环境中的人都不爱护环境,你也许就会觉得这没有什么错,因为大家都这样做)所以,在一定的环境里,我们很难跳出这个环境来审视,就算是再客观的学者,也难免受自己文化的局限。
通过比较,发现我们的长处和短处,有利于我们take the excellences and discard the dregs,让我们的文化不断发展优化,否则就会停滞不前。
其实,不仅是在文化反面,在其他领域, only when put in a broader environment could one learn relatively. (Just as the sun is the center of system, while it is nothing but an ordinary star in the galaxy) 以为自己的园林很好,但其实他只是世界园林中的一个小部分,西方园林,伊斯兰园林都很重要。这也教给我们,在思考问题或做事情的时候,不能只从一方面出发,而应该做多方面的考虑,这样的结果才能进可能的全面和客观。
In conclusion,only through the comparison and contrast could one find the flaws and get a general conclusion.
6."The most effective way to understand contemporary culture is to analyze the trends of its youth."
10"Governments must ensure that their major cities receive the financial support they need in order to thrive, because it is primarily in cities that a nation's cultural traditions are preserved and generated."
123"It is possible to identify a person's politics within a very short time of meeting him or her. Everything about people—their clothes, their friends, the way they talk, what they eat—reflects their political beliefs."
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开明政府
(68)*108"In many countries it is now possible to turn on the television and view government at work. Watching these proceedings can help people understand the issues that affect their lives. The more kinds of government proceedings—trials, debates, meetings, etc—that are televised, the more society will benefit."
(20)*8."It is often necessary, even desirable, for political leaders to withhold information from the public."
而在其他方面,leader应该最大程度上保证信心公开化。否则会导致权力滥用,腐败滋生。Just like President Nixon's withholding of information about his active role in the Watergate cover-up。人们有知情权,他们有权知道自己选出的leader有没有实现他们当初的诺言,只有信息公开化,才能让选民很好的进行监督。还有就是SARAS,开始隐瞒情况,造成病毒没有得到很好的控制,迅速传播,给社会造成了重大的损失。
公不公开取决于这些信息是否影响货架稳定和长远发展。如果withhold info 是有利于股价发展的,则应该隐瞒。而如果是政府刻意隐瞒丑闻,或是企图蒙蔽百姓,制造假象,就是不对的,应该将信息公布于众。
(33)*167"It is impossible for an effective political leader to tell the truth all the time. Complete honesty is not a useful virtue for a politician."
确实不能什么时候都tell the truth,一些个人隐私和国家机密。但是不tell the truth并不意味着这个领导不honesty。Honesty是一个领导应该具有的基本素质。
领导者也是凡人,我们每个人都很难做到tell the truth all the time. 虽然作为leader,应该具有表率作用,可是如果我们一味用圣人的标准来要求leader,未免太过苛刻。他们也有自己的隐私权,我们不能要求leader将自己所有的信息都公之于众,他们有权利拥有自己的私生活,我们应该尊重他们的权利和自由。另外,有些情况下,作为一个领导者,应该学会机智的回避一些问题。
诚实对我们每个人来说都是十分重要的,就像每个人都喜欢和诚实的人做朋友。那么作为一个领导者,他也必须具备诚实的素质。Just like President Nixon's withholding of information about his active role in the Watergate cover-up。当人们得知真相的时候,他就失去了人民的信任,政治生涯就结束了。
诚不诚实取决于是否影响货架稳定和长远发展。如果withhold info 是有利于国家发展的,则可以回避问题,不用诚实的回答。而如果是政府刻意隐瞒丑闻,或是企图蒙蔽百姓,制造假象,就是不对的,应该将信息公布于众。
(49)*195"The goal of politics should not be the pursuit of an ideal, but rather the search for common ground and reasonable consensus."
45"Government officials should rely on their own judgment rather than unquestioningly carrying out the will of the people whom they serve."
105"The true strength of a country is best demonstrated by the willingness of its government to tolerate challenges from it's own citizens."
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社会繁荣稳定
(16)*170"The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists, but the general welfare of all its people."
15"The stability of a society depends on how it responds to the extremes of human behavior."
19"If a society is to thrive, it must put its own overall success before the well-being of its individual citizens."
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少数人和多数人
(10)*40"Scholars and researchers should not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution to the larger society. It is more important that they pursue their individual interests, however unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem."
我们的确不能仅仅从contribution来评判一个scholars,因为这样做可能会带来一些问题,而且有时候我们也很难判断是否会contribution。有人说应该注重研究者的兴趣,的确,兴趣是最好的老师,但是我们也不能overindulgent兴趣。
我们不能仅仅从contribution来评判一个scholars,因为当只注重结果的时候,就出现了utilitarianism。现在 很多人eager for quick success and instant benefit,没有科学应有的strict attitude toward work,只想出名或要钱。Ex:plagiarized theses,篡改实验数据。这些都是太过注重结果造成的。
当有兴趣驱使的时候,settle down (to one's work,,不管什么领域,兴趣是最好的老师。艺术领域,兴趣激发创作。科学领域,兴趣激发求知探索的欲望。但是我们也不能放任兴趣发展,比如说human cloning,要控制,因为对社会有潜在威胁。核能,用好了就能发电,用不好危及人类。
In conclusion。。。
(75)*218"In order for any work of art—whether film, literature, sculpture, or a song—to have merit, it must be understandable to most people."
(60)*171."People who pursue their own intellectual interests for purely personal reasons are more likely to benefit the rest of the world than are people who try to act for the public good. "
(60)*61"High-profile awards such as the Nobel Prize are actually damaging to society because they suggest that only a few people deserve such recognition."
(84)*83"Government should preserve publicly owned wilderness areas in their natural state, even though these areas are often extremely remote and thus accessible to only a few people."
(85)*140"What society has thought to be its greatest social, political, and individual achievements have often resulted in the greatest discontent."
(96)*197"The material progress and well-being of one country are necessarily connected to the material progress and well-being of all other countries."
(96)*209"Progress is best made through discussion among people who have contrasting points of view."
9"Academic disciplines have become so specialized in recent years that scholars' ideas reach only a narrow audience. Until scholars can reach a wider audience, their ideas will have little use."
22"Many people believe that a few individuals or small groups (family, friends, teachers, celebrities, for example) have caused them to think and behave in the way they do. Yet it is always society as a whole that defines us and our attitudes, not a few individuals."
====================================================
细节和大局
23"Contemporary technology makes available many small pieces of factual information. As a result, people have become so preoccupied with bits of fragmented information that they pay too little attention to the larger issues and overall perspectives."
229"The best way to learn a new subject or skill is to study small segments or details in great depth rather than to start by trying to develop a sense of the whole."
====================================================
领导者
(46)*160"The most essential quality of an effective leader is the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives. Any leader who is quickly and easily influenced by shifts in popular opinion will accomplish little."
(78)*165"In any given field, the leading voices come from people who are motivated not by conviction but by the desire to present opinions and ideas that differ from those held by the majority."
(12)*43"To be an effective leader, a public official must maintain the highest ethical and moral standards."
Ethical and moral standard are of vital importance for an effective leader both in business domain and political realms. 但是我们也不能要求用极端的标准去要求这些leader。同时,to be an effective leader, one has to 拥有其他一些品质。
可是,我们也不能要求这些领导保持极端的high standard。毕竟他们也都是普通人,不是the man of god。所以我们也应该用宽容的眼光去看待他们,只要们的行为举止不损害国家人民的利益,一切小过失应该被礼节,人无完人。
另外,作为一个effective leader,只保持high moral and ethical standard 是不够的,他还需要possess some other merits, such as wisdom, competence, tolerance, prowess, resolution, and so on。作为一个商业leader,如果只道德高尚却没有是公司赚钱的能力,是不行的。作为一个政治领袖,如果只道德高尚而不能拿出有效的措施是国家强大人民幸福也是不行的。
In conclusion。。。
For example, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky and President Richard Nixon’s “Watergate scandal” can not totally overshadow their contribution to their nation. In most people’s opinion, they still are effective leaders.
202"Unlike great thinkers and great artists, the most effective political leaders must often yield to public opinion and abandon principle for the sake of compromise."
24"People in positions of power are most effective when they exercise caution and restraint in the use of that power."
89"Leaders are created primarily by the demands that are placed upon them."
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选择
(30)*136"The absence of choice is a circumstance that is very, very rare."
156"Choice is an illusion. In reality, our lives are controlled by the society in which we live."
====================================================
丑闻
(60)*185"Scandals—whether in politics, academia, or other areas—can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could."
Group C: Technology and humanity (machine and human)
7,16,30,38,58,66,88,107,114,119,124,129,137,150,151,155,159,166,183,196,219,233,237,
==================================
(38)*16"Although many people think that the luxuries and conveniences of contemporary life are entirely harmless, in fact, they actually prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals." 现代生活的奢华和便利阻止人们成为真正强大和独立的个体。
With the sci-tech progress and raising social productive forces,人们的生活也变得越来越奢华和便利。有人说这种奢华和便利prevent people from developing into truly strong and independent individuals. However, 在我们下结论之前,应该先搞清楚什么是所谓的‘truly strong and independent individuals’.
我们承认,人们越来越依赖于高科技产品,如果没有高科技产品,估计人们连洗衣做饭这种干事情都会手足无措。同时,汽车,电梯大大减少了人们每日的运动量,不利于人们身体的健康。然而,身体健康或行为独立就可以说一个人truly strong and independent吗?
试想,当一个孩子长大,离开父母,有自己独立的生活后,如果这个孩子没有独立思考的能力,没有用强大的思想支撑,事事还是要让别人帮助做判断,那么他是strong, but not truly strong; he is independent, but not truly independent.
因此,真正的strong and independent 并不是身体层面上的,而是精神层面上的。所以,判断一个人是否真正的strong and independent的标准应当是:看他是否拥有强大的思想,以及是否可以独立的思考。而现代生活中的某些高科技产品所带来的便捷有助于我们的思想变得强大和独立。
In conclusion, 一个人精神的强大和独立,而非身体上的,才是真正的强大和独立。现代生活的奢华和便利,没有阻止人们,反而促进人们,成为真正强大和独立的个体。
==================================
(32)*119"When research priorities are being set for science, education, or any other area, the most important question to consider is: How many people's lives will be improved if the results are successful?"
任何领域的研究的目的都是为人类服务的,some people argue that the priorities of the research should be set depending on the number of people’s lives will be improved if the results are successful. 在time and money一定的情况下,这样做看上去合理,however, 这样做是不可行的。
One of the characteristics of any research is the uncertainty of their result. 在大多数情况下,我们无法判断究竟是哪一个research的结果可以提高更多人的生活水平。 For example, 杂交水稻解决了世界的粮食短缺问题,而某些疫苗的研究帮助人们预防了许多疾病。心理学家的研究帮助人们在现在快节奏的生活中找到平衡。如果现在要让我们将它们排序,我们该怎样排呢?显然,我们并不能明确的排除他们的顺序,它们都为人类社会做出了巨大的贡献。
(11)*88"Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customs and ethics."
Technologies can to a certain degree influence social customs and ethics --both in positive and negative aspects. However, technologies only are insufficient to determine them.
From the discussion above, some people may get to the conclusion that tech can actually determine our social customs and ethics alone because of its profound influence on our lives. However, they neglect other aspects that are also play an important role in determine the social customs and ethics, such as education and laws.
教育和法律可以有效地减弱tech带来的消极影响。比如说面对传统文化的丧失,通过教育可以improve the acceptance of traditional culture while through legislation, government can set some legal festivals and holidays to better preserve traditional culture. 面对ethical lapse,可以通过教育使人们建立正确的道德观(moral outlook),而通过立法,例如禁止human cloning,都可以很好的避免tech的消极影响。
In conclusion…
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人 vs 机器
(42)*159"The human mind will always be superior to machines because machines are only tools of human minds."
机器在某些方面远不及人脑,但是在有些能力上比人强,而且随着AI的发展,机器也许会在更多的方面代替或超过人类。
66"As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate."
==================================
高科技
(51)*7、"The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records."
(85)*38"In the age of television, reading books is not as important as it once was. People can learn as much by watching television as they can by reading books."
(71)*30"The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people's efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time."
(98)*151"High-speed electronic communications media, such as electronic mail and television, tend to prevent meaningful and thoughtful communication."
114"Humanity has made little real progress over the past century or so. Technological innovations have taken place, but the overall condition of humanity is no better. War, violence, and poverty are still with us. Technology cannot change the condition of humanity."
155"Contemporary society offers so many ways of learning that reading books is no longer very important."
150"Because of television and worldwide computer connections, people can now become familiar with a great many places that they have never visited. As a result, tourism will soon become obsolete."
237"Computers and video technology can make facsimiles of original works such as paintings and historical documents available to everyone. The great advantage of this new technology is that it will enable anyone—not just scholars—to conduct in-depth research without having access to the original works."
166"Over the past century, the most significant contribution of technology has been to make people's lives more comfortable."
196"Technology creates more problems than it solves, and may threaten or damage the quality of life."
124"Instant foods, instant communication, faster transportation-all of these recent developments are designed to save time. Ironically, though, instead of making more leisure time available, these developments have contributed to a pace of human affairs that is more rushed and more frantic than ever before."
58"The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves."
107"Instant communication systems encourage people to form hasty opinions and give quick replies rather than take the time to develop thoughtful, well-reasoned points of view."
219"Now that computer technology has made possible the rapid accessing of large amounts of factual information, people are less likely than ever to think deeply or originally. They feel unable to compete with—much less contribute to—the quantity of information that is now available electronically."
233"Although innovations such as video, computers, and the Internet seem to offer schools improved methods for instructing students, these technologies all too often distract from real learning."
129"Technology is a necessary but not always a positive force in modern life."
==================================
变得复杂
(100)*183"As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more complex and more mysterious."
137"What we call progress is a matter of exchanging one problem for another."作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:04:42
D. Rational and Emotional 理性和感性
109,112,115,127,157,
109"The purpose of many advertisements is to make consumers want to buy a product so that they will 'be like' the person in the ad. This practice is effective because it not only sells products but also helps people feel better about themselves."
112"Some educational systems emphasize the development of students' capacity for reasoning and logical thinking, but students would benefit more from an education that also taught them to explore their own emotions."
115"It is through the use of logic and of precise, careful measurement that we become aware of our progress. Without such tools, we have no reference points to indicate how far we have advanced or retreated."
127"Facts are stubborn things. They cannot be altered by our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions."
157"There is no such thing as purely objective observation. All observation is subjective; it is always guided by the observer's expectations or desires."作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:04:56
Group E Interdisciplinary各学科之间
28,39,41,50,57,74,94,131,132,138,154,158,176,180,204,220,
====================================================
学习事实
*28"Students should memorize facts only after they have studied the ideas, trends, and concepts that help explain those facts. Students who have learned only facts have learned very little."
====================================================
实践经验
*50"In order to improve the quality of instruction at the college and university level, all faculty should be required to spend time working outside the academic world in professions relevant to the courses they teach."
57"The depth of knowledge to be gained from books is much richer and broader than what can be learned from direct experience."
204"We learn through direct experience; to accept a theory without experiencing it is to learn nothing at all."
====================================================
图像vs语言
*74"The most effective way to communicate an idea or value to large groups of people is through the use of images, not language."
====================================================
艺术VS科学
*131"The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."
*176"The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."
*243"The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments."
158The arts (music, dance, visual arts, etc.) are vitally important to students' education and should therefore receive as much emphasis as mathematics, science, reading and other mainstream subjects."
====================================================
犯错才能成功
138"Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress."
====================================================
法律
*180"Many problems of modern society cannot be solved by laws and the legal system because moral behavior cannot be legislated."
*174"Laws should not be rigid or fixed. Instead, they should be flexible enough to take account of various circumstances, times, and places."
====================================================
专才vs通才 要学习的学科
*4、"No field of study can advance significantly unless outsiders bring their knowledge and experience to that field of study."
*41"Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
94"Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student's field of study because acquiring knowledge of various academic disciplines is the best way to become truly educated."
132"The university community consists of three different worlds—the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Because each world operates on its own assumptions and has its own special habits of thinking, rarely is there meaningful interaction among the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences."
220"The increase in knowledge is forcing people to specialize. As a result, the distance between fields of specialization has become so vast that specialists in different areas are rarely able to influence each other."
====================================================
学校教育重要vs不重要
39"The intellectual benefits of attending a university or college are vastly overrated: most people could learn more by studying and reading on their own for four years than by pursuing a university or college degree."
154"Both parents and communities must be involved in the local schools. Education is too important to leave solely to a group of professional educators."作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:05:12
Group E Interdisciplinary各学科之间
5,17,28,39,41,50,57,69,74,85,94,131,132,138,143,144,154,158,176,180,184,204,220
====================================================
学习事实
(19)*28"Students should memorize facts only after they have studied the ideas, trends, and concepts that help explain those facts. Students who have learned only facts have learned very little."学生们应该在了解事实的来龙去脉后才记住这些事实,只学习事实本身的学生是学不到所少东西的。
我们承认,了解事实的来龙去脉对于comprehensively and systematically的理解知识是有帮助的。然而,并不是所有的知识都有必要探究其本源,也不是所有的知识都可以探究其本源。所以说只学facts也不一定learn very little.
In conclusion, 了解事情的来龙去脉对于我们的学习是有好处的,但在有些情况下,单单记住事实本身也会让我们学到很多知识。
====================================================
实践经验
(2)*50"In order to improve the quality of instruction at the college and university level, all faculty should be required to spend time working outside the academic world in professions relevant to the courses they teach."
In conclusion, 理论联系实践的教学方法对于某些实践性比较强学科是十分有必要和有益的,而对于那些理论性较强的学科来说却并不一定适用,我们可以通过许多其他方法,共同作用,来提高大学的教学质量。
57"The depth of knowledge to be gained from books is much richer and broader than what can be learned from direct experience."
204"We learn through direct experience; to accept a theory without experiencing it is to learn nothing at all."
====================================================
图像vs语言
(44)*74"The most effective way to communicate an idea or value to large groups of people is through the use of images, not language."
图像更加直观生动,ex:在园林景观课程上,如果professor只用语言介绍英国风景园,意大利台地园和日本枯山水园的异同,学生会很confused。也许老师说半天,同学也想象不出来到底啥样。但如果这时候有图片,同学们一看就能明白,因为他们更加直观的展现了各自的特点,根本不用去费力记忆。
In conclusion,图片和语言都很重要,有时候图像好,有时候语言好,而又有时候,两者结合才最好。
====================================================
艺术VS科学
(4)*69"Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development"
(政府应该少限制科学研究发展)
除了绘画之外,文学作品和音乐作品也可以反映一个特定历史时期的社会理念和脉动。例如Maupassant的The Necklace, 就是对19世纪capitalist regime下人们的greed and want的accurate reflect;而The Internationale则是反映了the rebellious spirit of pariah against oppression and exploitation——‘Stand up, all victims of oppression!’
In conclusion, not all arts can reveal the hidden ideas and impulses of a society, but for most masterpieces, arts such as painting, literature and music, have reflected the characters of that time!
(9)*144"It is the artist, not the critic,* who gives society something of lasting value." 是艺术家而不是评论家带给社会一些具有持久价值的东西。
143"Artists should pay little attention to their critics.* Criticism tends to undermine and constrain the artist's creativity."艺术家不必太在意他们的批评者,批评总是在破坏和压制艺术家的创造力。
*a person who evaluates works of art, such as novels, films, music, paintings, etc.
(60)*176"The function of science is to reassure; the purpose of art is to upset. Therein lies the value of each."
(85)*243"The true value of a civilization is reflected in its artistic creations rather than in its scientific accomplishments."
(64)*85"Government funding of the arts threatens the integrity of the arts."
158The arts (music, dance, visual arts, etc.) are vitally important to students' education and should therefore receive as much emphasis as mathematics, science, reading and other mainstream subjects."
====================================================
犯错才能成功
(27)*138"Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress."
(17)*184"It is a grave mistake to theorize before one has data."
Admittedly, data plays a significant role in our society,有时候没数据就得结论会引发问题。In the realm of science, for example, many theories were generated from data. The great biologist Mendel finds the discipline of genetics from the experiment of hybrid beans. He discovered that the growth of beans follow a certain rule statistically. Without data, it was impossible for him to propose the Mendel’s Law. 而在而在战争领域,如果没有得到地方充足的data,很有可能错误判断局势,导致重大失误。
但是在一些情况下,人们无法or很难得到数据,于是人们先做出结论,再去设法证明,而这些结论就是猜想和假说。猜想和假说,有待人们验证,并没有什么错(ex:Goldbach's Conjecture and Four Color Conjecture)正是有了这些猜想,才给研究指明了方向,否则无从下手。
====================================================
法律
(40)*180"Many problems of modern society cannot be solved by laws and the legal system because moral behavior cannot be legislated."
我们承认大部分道德问题是不便于用laws and legal system解决的,但是这并不意味着不能用此方法解决,随着社会的发展,已经有一些道德问题通过立法被很好的解决了。而且,道德问题仅是我们当今社会面临问题中的一部分,其他problems是可以通过立法解决的。
In conclusion, 虽然我们很难用立法的手段来规范道德, 但是随着社会的发展,法律和立法是解决某些道德问题的最有利手段。并且道德问题并不是我们当今社会面临问题的全部,对于其他一些问题,我们仍然可以考虑通过法律来解决。
(22)*17"There are two types of laws: just and unjust. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more importantly, to disobey and resist unjust laws."
法律一种规则,一种制约,有了它,才能有效地解决一些纷争,才能维护社会的稳定,所以我们应该遵守法律。可是有人说,我们只应该obey just laws, and disobey or even resist unjust laws. 在作出判断之前,我们应该弄清楚just和unjust的判断标准是什么。
我们该怎样区分what is just law and what is unjust law呢?每个人对于这个问题的标准肯定也不同。也许同样一件事情,对于一些人来说是公正的,而对于另一些来说就是不公正的了。如果社会中的每个个人都按照自己心中的规则去选择是否应该遵守法律,那么法律就失去了它的强制性和威严性,社会也将会变成一团混乱,毫无规则可言。所以,判断一个法律是just or unjust是不应该仅从个人利益出发,而是从大多数人的利益出发——看这种个人意愿是否是普遍的现象并有利于社会发展。
在这个基础上,再来评判我们的法律,的确会发现,有一些法律是符合人民利益的,而有一些法律,是不符合大众利益或时代发展需要的,这时候,我们就应该选择disobey or resist unjust law, 这样才能推进法制的进步。
In conclusion, 对于那些符合大多数人利益的法律,即使有时与我们个人利益冲突,我们也应该严格遵守;但当一个法律触犯了大多数人的利益时,我们就要勇于争取自己的权利,这样才能促进社会和法制的进步和健全。
(68)*174"Laws should not be rigid or fixed. Instead, they should be flexible enough to take account of various circumstances, times, and places."
====================================================
专才vs通才 要学习的学科
4、"No field of study can advance significantly unless outsiders bring their knowledge and experience to that field of study."
(68)*41"Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
(71)*5、"A nation should require all its students to study the same national curriculum until they enter college rather than allow schools in different parts of the nation to determine which academic courses to offer."
94"Universities should require every student to take a variety of courses outside the student's field of study because acquiring knowledge of various academic disciplines is the best way to become truly educated."
132"The university community consists of three different worlds—the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences. Because each world operates on its own assumptions and has its own special habits of thinking, rarely is there meaningful interaction among the sciences, the humanities, and the social sciences."
220"The increase in knowledge is forcing people to specialize. As a result, the distance between fields of specialization has become so vast that specialists in different areas are rarely able to influence each other."
====================================================
学校教育重要vs不重要
39"The intellectual benefits of attending a university or college are vastly overrated: most people could learn more by studying and reading on their own for four years than by pursuing a university or college degree."
154"Both parents and communities must be involved in the local schools. Education is too important to leave solely to a group of professional educators."作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:05:39
F. Conformity and nonconformity (cooperation and competition)
1,11,46,95,116,141,198,225,235,237
====================================================
*1、"We can usually learn much more from people whose views we share than from people whose views contradict our own; disagreement can cause stress and inhibit learning."
*95"People work more productively in teams than individually. Teamwork requires cooperation, which motivates people much more than individual competition does."
*225"People often look for similarities, even between very different things, and even when it is unhelpful or harmful to do so. Instead, a thing should be considered on its own terms; we should avoid the tendency to compare it to something else."(分歧和统一)
*235"Most people are taught that loyalty is a virtue. But loyalty—whether to one's friends, to one's school or place of employment, or to any institution—is all too often a destructive rather than a positive force."
*46"While some leaders in government, sports, industry, and other areas attribute their success to a well-developed sense of competition, a society can better prepare its young people for leadership by instilling in them a sense of cooperation."
*198"Instead of encouraging conformity, society should show greater appreciation of individual differences."
*141"Most people recognize the benefits of individuality, but the fact is that personal economic success requires conformity."
*175"It is always an individual who is the impetus for innovation; the details may be worked out by a team, but true innovation results from the enterprise and unique perception of an individual."
==================================
全球化问题
*11"All nations should help support the development of a global university designed to engage students in the process of solving the world's most persistent social problems."
*116"With the growth of global networks in such areas as economics and communication, there is no doubt that every aspect of society—including education, politics, the arts, and the sciences—will benefit greatly from international influences."作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:06:00
Group G Idealism and pragmatism理想和现实
14, 34, 49, 51, 80 , 86,90,73, 99,106, 130,148,164,186,191, 210,222,232,236
教育,课程,兴趣,工作
*51"Education will be truly effective only when it is specifically designed to meet the individual needs and interests of each student."
*210"Most people choose a career on the basis of such pragmatic considerations as the needs of the economy, the relative ease of finding a job, and the salary they can expect to make. Hardly anyone is free to choose a career based on his or her natural talents or interest in a particular kind of work."
34"Instead of requiring students to take courses in a variety of disciplines—that is, courses ranging from the arts and the humanities to the physical and biological sciences—colleges and universities should allow students to enroll only in those courses that will help prepare them for jobs in their chosen fields. Such concentration is necessary in today's increasingly work-oriented society."
80"All students should be required to take courses in the sciences, even if they have no interest in science."
90"College students should be encouraged to pursue subjects that interest them rather than seek programs that promise entry into the job market."
106"All students should be required to take at least one course in ethics, even if taking the course means a decreased emphasis on academic subjects."
191"Education should be equally devoted to enriching the personal lives of students and to training students to be productive workers."
232"The purpose of education should be to create an academic environment that is separate from the outside world. This kind of environment is ideal because it allows students to focus on important ideas without being held back by practical concerns."
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想象力,经验,想象文学,纪实文学,
*73"In most professions and academic fields, imagination is more important than knowledge."
14"It is necessary for everyone to read poetry, novels, mythology and other types of imaginative literature."
49"Imaginative works such as novels, plays, films, fairy tales, and legends present a more accurate and meaningful picture of human experience than do factual accounts. Because the creators of fiction shape and focus reality rather than report on it literally, their creations have a more lasting significance."
164"Sometimes imagination is a more valuable asset than experience. People who lack experience are free to imagine what is possible and thus can approach a task without constraints of established habits and attitudes."
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实用主义,理想主义
*99"In any realm of life—whether academic, social, business, or political—the only way to succeed is to take a practical, rather than an idealistic, point of view. Pragmatic behavior guarantees survival, whereas idealistic views tend to be superceded by simpler, more immediate options."
148"Many people admire idealism, but it usually leads to disappointment or trouble."
186"Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world."
236"Encouraging young people to believe that they can accomplish great things if they try hard enough is both misleading and potentially harmful."
86"Young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition."
222"Learning for learning's sake is an outdated concept. Today, education must serve an ulterior purpose and be directed toward clear goals."
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*130"How children are socialized today determines the destiny of society. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned how to raise children who can help bring about a better society."
Group G Idealism and pragmatism理想和现实
14, 34, 49, 51, 80 , 86,90,73, 99,106, 130,148,164,186,191, 210,222,232,236
教育,课程,兴趣,工作
(17)*51"Education will be truly effective only when it is specifically designed to meet the individual needs and interests of each student."
Interest is an essential element in one’s learning and it provides a student passion and impetus to learn. 想象那些真正能在某一领域取得成功的人,也必定是本身对于这份事业有强大的兴趣,否则,很难坚持。Ex:画家苦练绘画是基于对作画的热爱:Leonardo da Vinci。。。科学家基于兴趣投身于科学研究,Ex:Thomas Alva Edison。
(64)*210"Most people choose a career on the basis of such pragmatic considerations as the needs of the economy, the relative ease of finding a job, and the salary they can expect to make. Hardly anyone is free to choose a career based on his or her natural talents or interest in a particular kind of work."
34"Instead of requiring students to take courses in a variety of disciplines—that is, courses ranging from the arts and the humanities to the physical and biological sciences—colleges and universities should allow students to enroll only in those courses that will help prepare them for jobs in their chosen fields. Such concentration is necessary in today's increasingly work-oriented society."
80"All students should be required to take courses in the sciences, even if they have no interest in science."
90"College students should be encouraged to pursue subjects that interest them rather than seek programs that promise entry into the job market."
106"All students should be required to take at least one course in ethics, even if taking the course means a decreased emphasis on academic subjects."
191"Education should be equally devoted to enriching the personal lives of students and to training students to be productive workers."
232"The purpose of education should be to create an academic environment that is separate from the outside world. This kind of environment is ideal because it allows students to focus on important ideas without being held back by practical concerns."
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想象力,经验,想象文学,纪实文学,
(25)*73"In most professions and academic fields, imagination is more important than knowledge."
有人认为想象力比知识更重要,就像Albert Einstein 说的,”imagination is more important than knowledge。Because knowledge is limited,while imagination can bring you explore the whole world! “However, Einstein also said: the secret to imagination is that one learns to hide the origin of it. 而其实想象力和知识都很重要,但如果必须分出高下,知识更重要,因为知识是想象力的来源。
14"It is necessary for everyone to read poetry, novels, mythology and other types of imaginative literature."
49"Imaginative works such as novels, plays, films, fairy tales, and legends present a more accurate and meaningful picture of human experience than do factual accounts. Because the creators of fiction shape and focus reality rather than report on it literally, their creations have a more lasting significance."
164"Sometimes imagination is a more valuable asset than experience. People who lack experience are free to imagine what is possible and thus can approach a task without constraints of established habits and attitudes."
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实用主义,理想主义
(23)*99"In any realm of life—whether academic, social, business, or political—the only way to succeed is to take a practical, rather than an idealistic, point of view. Pragmatic behavior guarantees survival, whereas idealistic views tend to be superceded by simpler, more immediate options."
148"Many people admire idealism, but it usually leads to disappointment or trouble."
186"Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world."
236"Encouraging young people to believe that they can accomplish great things if they try hard enough is both misleading and potentially harmful."
86"Young people should be encouraged to pursue long-term, realistic goals rather than seek immediate fame and recognition."
222"Learning for learning's sake is an outdated concept. Today, education must serve an ulterior purpose and be directed toward clear goals."
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(1)*130"How children are socialized today determines the destiny of society. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned how to raise children who can help bring about a better society."
Abraham Lincoln, He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery.
Primary socialization
It may provide the individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within their own society。society itself is formed through a plurality of shared norms, customs, values, traditions, social roles, symbols and languages. Socialization is thus ‘the means by which social and cultural continuity are attained’
Group H tradition and modernization
13,26,48,54,70,81,98,103,110,120,125,139,147,189,207,221,226
*13"Many of the world's lesser-known languages are being lost as fewer and fewer people speak them. The governments of countries in which these languages are spoken should act to prevent such languages from becoming extinct."
开头:根据人类学家的统计,世界上有接近7000种语言,并预言它们中的一半将会在下世纪消亡。人们无法想象如果世界上只剩下一种或几种语言将会是多么的单调,所以他们想要保护那些濒临消亡的语言以阻止它们的消亡。然而,人们忘记了一点,那就是事物的存在和灭亡有其自身的发展规律,人为的干预往往会适得其反(go into reverse)。
反:有些人认为政府可以让学校通过强制性学习来保护这个语种。或是鼓励一些少数民族的女性多生育以维持说本种语言的人数。这些方法都是不太可行的。前者会引起孩子的抵制情绪,也剥夺了他们选择不学习这种语言的权利。而后者更是没有考虑人口非正常增长(irregular population growth)所能带来的负面效果。
结尾:一种事物的灭亡必有其深刻的社会、历史原因,我们能做的就是真实的记录那些语言,而不是去努力保留它们,那样做也许会让我们的世界停滞不前。
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26"Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."
开头:城市化的进程越来越快(the rapid spread of urbanization),而地球上的土地资源却是有限的,所以有些人建议拆除老建筑来满足当代的需要。而在我们判断是否应该这样做之前,必须弄清楚我们当代的需要究竟是什么。
当一个人漫步于北京老城区,那里远离城市的喧嚣,一切都显得那么平静祥和,无声的老建筑就会向你诉说着这个城市的历史,勾起人们儿时的记忆,让每个来到这里的人都能将浮躁的心平静下来。可现在,这样的老城区已经越来越少了,它们被夷为平地,变成了住宅(residence),商场和喧闹的马路。这就是人们所希望的吗?答案其实是否定的(the answer is no)。
许多朋友在向我抱怨,说现在越来越不喜欢去各地旅游了。因为我们旅游的主要目的就是想要体验不同地方的不同特色和风情,可是当我们走在香港,东京(Tokyo),纽约这种大都市,亦或是其他一些小城镇时,感受到的却都是程式化的摩天大楼(skyscraper)和堵塞的交通。试想有一天,泰姬陵(Taj Mahal)变成了一片住宅,而长城变成了高速公路(highway),世界各地已无历史遗迹,取而代之是拥挤杂乱的现代化设施,那是多么的不堪想象(The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate。)
其实,面对紧迫的用地紧张问题,我们完全可以寻求其他的解决方案。例如,景观设计师和建筑师门发明的屋顶花园(roof garden),不仅缓解了城市的热岛效应(tropical island effect ) 又没有占用城市宝贵的土地,这种创新的思维是值得我们去借鉴的。
结尾:简而言之,一个城市的老建筑是该城市文化的瑰宝,具有很重要的历史和人文价值,在考虑用作它途时,应该进行全面的利弊分析,而不能想当然的(take…for granted)说拆就拆,那样做人们将会be seized with remorse.
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*48"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
开头:当想起流水别墅(Falling Water),我们就会马上喊出莱特(FrankLloyd Wright)的名字。当说起英格兰足球队,首先会想起队长贝克汉姆(Beckham)。因为他们成了这个建筑或团队的灵魂人物,然而,这并不意味着我们遗忘了为这个项目共同努力的团队,以及同样在赛场上拼搏的队员,只是历史很难准确、完整的记录大众的作用。
我的一个小妹妹曾经在看世界杯的时候问我,为什么每只球队赢得胜利之后都会把一个人抛向空中(toss sb into the air),为什么领trophy cup那么荣耀和激动人心的环节都总是同一个人完成的。其实他个人,往往就是这只球队的captain,也是这支球队的灵魂。他在场上bring the enthusiasm into play,skilled in tactics,控制比赛节奏,没有他,场上会变成一锅粥,球队也很有可能失去cohesion。他也就成为了这支球队的代表和象征。所以我们在和朋友谈论英格兰队的比赛时,往往也是首先想到贝克汉姆,很难将场上每一个球员都想到,但是我们并没有否定场上每一个球员为比赛所做出的贡献。
我们从流水别墅中看到的不是莱特,而是一种将建筑和环境有机结合在一起的新的设计思维和理念(philosophy for the design),我们从球赛中看到的也不只是球队的某个球员,而是他们的合作、坚持和想要赢的信念。而莱特和贝克汉姆仅仅只是这理念和精神的代名词(synonym for)而已。从这个层面上说,记录一个人亦或是记录大众,都是一样的,而显然,前者比后者简便的多。
结尾:总之,我们在谈论历史时,在谈论你那些个人时,其实并没有忽略大众的力量,只是便于我们从历史中汲取精神的营养。那些个人已成为一种精神的代名词,其实,他们也早已成为了在背后做出贡献的大众的代名词。
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*54"History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today."
120"So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present."
125"The past is no predictor of the future."
开头:现代生活看似纷繁复杂,新事物,新思想,新潮流层出不穷。无数的事物都不断的在被重新定义,也许今天的潮流,明天就会过时。所以很多人认为历史并不能帮助我们在当今社会做出重大决定。然而,我们应该看到,历史的价值并不仅仅是一个个孤立的事件,而是在更广的层面,通过这些事件传达出的经验和教训,教给人们思考问题的方法,从而帮助人们作出决定。
中国西北曾经是一片茂密的森林,它不仅阻挡了来自北面的寒风,还提供了良好的生态效益。然而,由于人们多年来的乱砍乱伐,现在的西北已经成为了一片荒漠。北方的冷风长驱直入,沙化面积不断扩大,严重威胁了周围数以万计的居民的生存,并对中国的生态环境造成不可逆的破坏。我们从中学到了什么呢?难道仅仅是不能乱砍数木这么简单吗?不是的。类似的事件给人们敲响警钟,那就是要用发展的眼光看问题,坚持sustainable development,take into account both long-term and immediate interests.
现在城市化的进程越来越快,城市用地越来越紧张,有人提出城市应该以缩减公共绿地(public green space)的方法来缓解用地紧张问题,可人们并没有这样做,相反,各个地方都不断的扩大对于公共绿地的建设投资,也越来越重视环境效益,因为人们已经意识到,只顾眼前的利益而不顾长远的生态效益的严重后果。近些年来兴起的屋顶花园,就很好的解决了用地紧张和环境效益之间的矛盾。屋顶花园并不是可以直接从历史中汲取的,可是历史教给我们要用发展的眼光看问题,从而鼓励人们在矛盾之中寻得了平衡,解决了问题。
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*70"In any profession—business, politics, education, government—those in power should step down after five years. The surest path to success for any enterprise is revitalization through new leadership."
任何机构和企业都希望自己可以不断适应社会发展的脚步,取得人们的信赖,并获取成功。In the area of government and politics,in order to limit the power of the leaders, we should give our voters every right to vote for the person they trust in regularly; while for some enterprise and companies, one must weigh the consequences of it.
对大多数政府权力机关,those in power should step down after 5 years. 因为让一个人不加限制的处于领导地位,必然会导致abusive or unjust exercise of power. 而给这份权力加上一个限制,可以cut各个机构之间存在的benefit chain,起到mutual supervise的作用。同时,5年应该是一个很好的period,因为太长了会导致制度rigid,而太短会导致leadership不稳定,影响工作效率,甚至引发混乱。
而对于一些公司企业,频繁的更换leader可能并不是一个明智之举,因为有时候,这个leader已经filter into people’s minds,并成为了这个企业的symbol和这个企业的灵魂,例如Apple Inc的Steve Jobs,他就是保持这个公司活力的whole show;also, 一些designer clothes,建筑设计公司,他们的设计思想和公司的理念已经combine with each other. 在这样的情况下,更换leader显然会对公司的发展产生很大的影响,所以应该更加慎重。
衡量一个政府、公司、企业是否成功的标准不仅仅是看他的领导者,而要看这个团体的综合实力:员工的整体实力,企业的executive force ,cohesion,产品质量等等,公司广纳人才,同样也可以保持生命力和创新能力。
In short, 更换领导的初衷就是想让一个机构或企业更好的发展,换言之,如果一个机构或企业可以通过其他途径很好的发展,那我们也不必formalism,应该灵活应对;即使要以更换领导的方式达到目的,也要多方面考虑,慎重做决定,将它有可能带来的消极影响降到最低。
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*103"The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives."
结尾:历史的价值不仅仅是一个个孤立的事件,而是从这些历史事件或历史研究中给人们带来的经验和教训。这些经验不仅与我们的现在的生活息息相关,也必然会对未来的发展产生影响,奠定基础。如果人们只注重现在的生活而不用更长远的眼光去为将来做准备,那么人类社会就不会进步,甚至有可能会倒退。
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*147"Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."
传统涉及到人们生活的方方面面,但随着社会的不断发展,传统受到了来自现代化的挑战。我们承认,某些传统和现代化的发展的确是不相容的,然而,有些tradition是不会随着事件改变的;而大多数情况,我们都可以从tradition and modernization中寻得一种平衡。
在一些情况下,我们要勇敢的打破传统,从而接受全新的思维方法和观念。例如,在中国的农村,人们的traditional thinking就是重男轻女,这导致很多女婴的wrongful death以及对妇女的不尊重。而随着reform and opening-up policy,人们渐渐接受了gender equality的新的思想,从而使妇女在农村的地位有所提高,这是有利于社会发展的。同时,新科技的应用也大大提高了生产的效率,传统的farming practices已经不适应社会的需求,而机械化的生产把农民从土地中解放出来。这些事实说明,在某些领域,抛弃传统而选择新方法是有助于人类社会发展的,也是历史的必然选择。
然而,有些传统的价值是不会随着时间的流逝而磨灭的。比如人性中对于真、善、美(the truth, the good and the beautiful)的追求,将会伴随着人类发展的始终,因为基于这样的传统,人们之间才能互相信任,互相帮助,世界才能展现出一种包容的姿态。试想如果我们摒弃了这样的传统,人们只受利益的驱使,那么战争、chaos和instability将会充满我们的世界。
这样的例子太多太多,不胜枚举。有时候,我们没有办法将传统与现代化割裂开来,如果只注重传统,我们的社会就会停滞不前,而如果只注重现代化,我们就会损失很多人类宝贵的财富甚至导致社会的信仰缺失。所以,我们对待传统的态度应该是理智的摒弃它不好的方面,而继承和发扬它有力的一面,让传统与现代化和谐共存。
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*207"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
一些礼节和典礼的确可以help define a culture, 给人们一种归属感。however, some rituals and ceremonies 却会阻碍文化的发展。同时,除了rituals and ceremonies之外,还有很多方面都可以帮助refine a culture.
我们承认,一些rituals and ceremonies的确define a culture. For example, the Spring Festival of China, the Running Bull of Spain, the Chopsticks Day of Japan, the Oktoberfest of Muenchen and etc. 各种各样的具有特色的rituals and ceremonies 是这些文化区别于其他文化的重要标志。另外,像flag hoisting ceremony and Baptism的确可以带给人一种对于国家或信仰的归属感。
However,任何事情都有它的两面性。我们也应该认识到一些仪式和典礼的确有它的historical liminations,并可能会阻碍一种文化的发展。例如,在中国的农村地区,人们treat woman as inferior to man .所以,他们的ritual就是女人不能喝男人同桌吃饭,必须男人先吃,吃剩的女人再吃。In addition, 世界上有一些地方,婚姻大事是不能自己做主的,必须听从长辈的意见,年轻人失去了free love的权利。显然,这样的礼节并不会让人们产生归属感,而且阻碍了社会的进步。
实际上,礼节和典礼也不是唯一可以define一个culture和让人们有归属感的方面。比如说,建筑,服饰,饮食等等都可以起到同样的作用。泰姬陵是Islamic architecture style的象征,while Stone Garden是Japan的风格;节日中,Korean 喜欢穿Hanbok, while Indian love to put on Lisa;Dumplings are the traditional food of China while Sushi is Japanese favorite. In short, all the aspects above can make a culture distinguished and people there have a strong sense of who they are.
In conclusion, besides 礼节和典礼,很多方面都可以define a culture and make people have a sense of belonging。同时,对于那些阻碍人类和社会发展的礼节典礼,我们也应该勇于摒弃,而不是一位坚持。
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*221"The chief benefit of the study of history is to break down the illusion that people in one period of time are significantly different from people who lived at any other time in history."
人类的历史是延续的,不同时代的人有很多方面是相同的,例如一些传统的价值观,对知识的渴望,and etc. 但是随着社会的发展,不同时期的人们面临不一样的挑战,在思想上和生活方式上也都产生了很大的变化。
有些传统的价值是不会随着时间的流逝而磨灭的。比如人性中对于真、善、美(the truth, the good and the beautiful)的追求,将会伴随着人类发展的始终,因为基于这样的传统,人们之间才能互相信任,互相帮助,世界才能展现出一种包容的姿态。现在社会的发展也正是基于人们无限的求知欲望,正是这种欲望鼓励人们不断探索,不断前进。
然而,人类社会发展所处的阶段不同,有些传统的思想观念会发生天翻地覆的变化。在中国的农村,人们的traditional thinking就是重男轻女,这导致很多女婴的wrongful death以及对妇女的不尊重。而随着reform and opening-up policy,人们渐渐接受了gender equality的新的思想,从而使妇女在农村的地位有所提高,这是有利于社会发展的。
历史并不是一个个独立事件的组合体,我们研究历史的目的也不是简单的寻找古今的异同。而是从历史事件中获取对我们有益的经验或教训,更好的指导我们的生活。
==================================
*226"People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience."
社会的发展日新月异,新技术,新潮流,新思想不断产生,同时也给人类带来了新的问题。这些问题看似比我们的predecessors要复杂的多,可是我们忽略了不同时期的科技的发展水平和人类自身能力的进步,in this sense, 我们无法轻易的判断我们遇到的问题和挑战就要比ancestors复杂。
同时我们也看到,有些问题例如:环境问题,种族问题,战争 and a serious such problems 的解决并不只取决于科技进步的大小或者人类知识的多少,而取决于人们意识的进步——发展的眼光和一颗宽容的心。
==================================作者: wenyanmomo 时间: 2011-3-5 10:06:50
Group H tradition and modernization传统和现代
26,27,36,48,54,70,75,76,81,84,87,98,102,103,104,110,120,125,128,133,139,147,173,187,188,189,207,217,221,226,241,244
26"Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."
开头:城市化的进程越来越快(the rapid spread of urbanization),而地球上的土地资源却是有限的,所以有些人建议拆除老建筑来满足当代的需要。而在我们判断是否应该这样做之前,必须弄清楚我们当代的需要究竟是什么。
当一个人漫步于北京老城区,那里远离城市的喧嚣,一切都显得那么平静祥和,无声的老建筑就会向你诉说着这个城市的历史,勾起人们儿时的记忆,让每个来到这里的人都能将浮躁的心平静下来。可现在,这样的老城区已经越来越少了,它们被夷为平地,变成了住宅(residence),商场和喧闹的马路。这就是人们所希望的吗?答案其实是否定的(the answer is no)。
许多朋友在向我抱怨,说现在越来越不喜欢去各地旅游了。因为我们旅游的主要目的就是想要体验不同地方的不同特色和风情,可是当我们走在香港,东京(Tokyo),纽约这种大都市,亦或是其他一些小城镇时,感受到的却都是程式化的摩天大楼(skyscraper)和堵塞的交通。试想有一天,泰姬陵(Taj Mahal)变成了一片住宅,而长城变成了高速公路(highway),世界各地已无历史遗迹,取而代之是拥挤杂乱的现代化设施,那是多么的不堪想象(The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate。)
其实,面对紧迫的用地紧张问题,我们完全可以寻求其他的解决方案。例如,景观设计师和建筑师门发明的屋顶花园(roof garden),不仅缓解了城市的热岛效应(tropical island effect ) 又没有占用城市宝贵的土地,这种创新的思维是值得我们去借鉴的。
结尾:简而言之,一个城市的老建筑是该城市文化的瑰宝,具有很重要的历史和人文价值,在考虑用作它途时,应该进行全面的利弊分析,而不能想当然的(take…for granted)说拆就拆,那样做人们将会be seized with remorse.
*98"Colleges and universities should offer more courses on popular music, film, advertising, and television because contemporary culture has much greater relevance for students than do arts and literature of the past."
189"If people disregard the great works of the past, it is because these works no longer answer the needs of the present."
==================================
历史(个人/大众)(评价一个人)
*48"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
开头:当想起流水别墅(Falling Water),我们就会马上喊出莱特(FrankLloyd Wright)的名字。当说起英格兰足球队,首先会想起队长贝克汉姆(Beckham)。因为他们成了这个建筑或团队的灵魂人物,然而,这并不意味着我们遗忘了为这个项目共同努力的团队,以及同样在赛场上拼搏的队员,只是历史很难准确、完整的记录大众的作用。
我的一个小妹妹曾经在看世界杯的时候问我,为什么每只球队赢得胜利之后都会把一个人抛向空中(toss sb into the air),为什么领trophy cup那么荣耀和激动人心的环节都总是同一个人完成的。其实他个人,往往就是这只球队的captain,也是这支球队的灵魂。他在场上bring the enthusiasm into play,skilled in tactics,控制比赛节奏,没有他,场上会变成一锅粥,球队也很有可能失去cohesion。他也就成为了这支球队的代表和象征。所以我们在和朋友谈论英格兰队的比赛时,往往也是首先想到贝克汉姆,很难将场上每一个球员都想到,但是我们并没有否定场上每一个球员为比赛所做出的贡献。
我们从流水别墅中看到的不是莱特,而是一种将建筑和环境有机结合在一起的新的设计思维和理念(philosophy for the design),我们从球赛中看到的也不只是球队的某个球员,而是他们的合作、坚持和想要赢的信念。而莱特和贝克汉姆仅仅只是这理念和精神的代名词(synonym for)而已。从这个层面上说,记录一个人亦或是记录大众,都是一样的,而显然,前者比后者简便的多。
*36"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."
241"An individual's greatness cannot be judged objectively by his or her contemporaries; the most objective evaluators of a person's greatness are people who belong to a later time."
*76"Truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists are always out of step with their time and their society."
244"Most societies do not take their greatest thinkers seriously, even when they claim to admire them."
==================================
(传统/历史)和现在
*54"History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today."
*120"So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present."
中国西北曾经是一片茂密的森林,它不仅阻挡了来自北面的寒风,还提供了良好的生态效益。然而,由于人们多年来的乱砍乱伐,现在的西北已经成为了一片荒漠。北方的冷风长驱直入,沙化面积不断扩大,严重威胁了周围数以万计的居民的生存,并对中国的生态环境造成不可逆的破坏。我们从中学到了什么呢?难道仅仅是不能乱砍数木这么简单吗?不是的。类似的事件给人们敲响警钟,那就是要用发展的眼光看问题,坚持sustainable development,take into account both long-term and immediate interests.
现在城市化的进程越来越快,城市用地越来越紧张,有人提出城市应该以缩减公共绿地(public green space)的方法来缓解用地紧张问题,可人们并没有这样做,相反,各个地方都不断的扩大对于公共绿地的建设投资,也越来越重视环境效益,因为人们已经意识到,只顾眼前的利益而不顾长远的生态效益的严重后果。近些年来兴起的屋顶花园,就很好的解决了用地紧张和环境效益之间的矛盾。屋顶花园并不是可以直接从历史中汲取的,可是历史教给我们要用发展的眼光看问题,从而鼓励人们在矛盾之中寻得了平衡,解决了问题。
*147"Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."
传统涉及到人们生活的方方面面,但随着社会的不断发展,传统受到了来自现代化的挑战。我们承认,某些传统和现代化的发展的确是不相容的,然而,有些tradition是不会随着事件改变的;而大多数情况,我们都可以从tradition and modernization中寻得一种平衡。
在一些情况下,我们要勇敢的打破传统,从而接受全新的思维方法和观念。例如,在中国的农村,人们的traditional thinking就是重男轻女,这导致很多女婴的wrongful death以及对妇女的不尊重。而随着reform and opening-up policy,人们渐渐接受了gender equality的新的思想,从而使妇女在农村的地位有所提高,这是有利于社会发展的。同时,新科技的应用也大大提高了生产的效率,传统的farming practices已经不适应社会的需求,而机械化的生产把农民从土地中解放出来。这些事实说明,在某些领域,抛弃传统而选择新方法是有助于人类社会发展的,也是历史的必然选择。
然而,有些传统的价值是不会随着时间的流逝而磨灭的。比如人性中对于真、善、美(the truth, the good and the beautiful)的追求,将会伴随着人类发展的始终,因为基于这样的传统,人们之间才能互相信任,互相帮助,世界才能展现出一种包容的姿态。试想如果我们摒弃了这样的传统,人们只受利益的驱使,那么战争、chaos和instability将会充满我们的世界。
102"For better or worse, education is a process that involves revising the ideas, beliefs, and values people held in the past."
104"It is primarily through formal education that a culture tries to perpetuate the ideas it favors and discredit the ideas it fears."
128"It is often asserted that the purpose of education is to free the mind and the spirit. In reality, however, formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free."
*103"The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives."
81"Patriotic reverence for the history of a nation often does more to impede than to encourage progress." (对国家历史带有爱国主义的崇敬往往会阻碍进步而不是促进)
139"Every new generation needs to redefine 'right' and 'wrong' in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time."
*226"People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience."
社会的发展日新月异,新技术,新潮流,新思想不断产生,同时也给人类带来了新的问题。这些问题看似比我们的predecessors要复杂的多,可是我们忽略了不同时期的科技的发展水平和人类自身能力的进步,in this sense, 我们无法轻易的判断我们遇到的问题和挑战就要比ancestors复杂。
同时我们也看到,有些问题例如:环境问题,种族问题,战争 and a serious such problems 的解决并不只取决于科技进步的大小或者人类知识的多少,而取决于人们意识的进步——发展的眼光和一颗宽容的心。
133"The problems of modern society have led many people to complain: 'We live in terrible times.' Yet, given the choice, no one today would prefer to live in any other time."
==================================
(历史/传统)和创新
*173"Originality does not mean thinking something that was never thought before; it means putting old ideas together in new ways."
27"No one can possibly achieve success in the world by conforming to conventional practices and conventional ways of thinking."
75"The people who make important contributions to society are generally not those who develop their own new ideas, but those who are most gifted at perceiving and coordinating the talents and skills of others."
84"In any field of endeavor, it is impossible to make a significant contribution without first being strongly influenced by past achievements within that field."
187"It is easy to welcome innovation and accept new ideas. What most people find difficult, however, is accepting the way these new ideas are put into practice."
217"In order to produce successful original work, scholars and scientists must first study the successful work of others to learn what contributions remain to be made."
188"Success, whether academic or professional, involves an ability to survive in a new environment and, eventually, to change it."
==================================
新手vs老手
*70"In any profession—business, politics, education, government—those in power should step down after five years. The surest path to success for any enterprise is revitalization through new leadership."
任何机构和企业都希望自己可以不断适应社会发展的脚步,取得人们的信赖,并获取成功。In the area of government and politics,in order to limit the power of the leaders, we should give our voters every right to vote for the person they trust in regularly; while for some enterprise and companies, one must weigh the consequences of it.
对大多数政府权力机关,those in power should step down after 5 years. 因为让一个人不加限制的处于领导地位,必然会导致abusive or unjust exercise of power. 而给这份权力加上一个限制,可以cut各个机构之间存在的benefit chain,起到mutual supervise的作用。同时,5年应该是一个很好的period,因为太长了会导致制度rigid,而太短会导致leadership不稳定,影响工作效率,甚至引发混乱。
而对于一些公司企业,频繁的更换leader可能并不是一个明智之举,因为有时候,这个leader已经filter into people’s minds,并成为了这个企业的symbol和这个企业的灵魂,例如Apple Inc的Steve Jobs,他就是保持这个公司活力的whole show;also, 一些designer clothes,建筑设计公司,他们的设计思想和公司的理念已经combine with each other. 在这样的情况下,更换leader显然会对公司的发展产生很大的影响,所以应该更加慎重。
衡量一个政府、公司、企业是否成功的标准不仅仅是看他的领导者,而要看这个团体的综合实力:员工的整体实力,企业的executive force ,cohesion,产品质量等等,公司广纳人才,同样也可以保持生命力和创新能力。
In short, 更换领导的初衷就是想让一个机构或企业更好的发展,换言之,如果一个机构或企业可以通过其他途径很好的发展,那我们也不必formalism,应该灵活应对;即使要以更换领导的方式达到目的,也要多方面考虑,慎重做决定,将它有可能带来的消极影响降到最低。
*87"In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important discoveries."
==================================
传统礼节典礼
*207"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
一些礼节和典礼的确可以help define a culture, 给人们一种归属感。however, some rituals and ceremonies 却会阻碍文化的发展。同时,除了rituals and ceremonies之外,还有很多方面都可以帮助refine a culture.
我们承认,一些rituals and ceremonies的确define a culture. For example, the Spring Festival of China, the Running Bull of Spain, the Chopsticks Day of Japan, the Oktoberfest of Muenchen and etc. 各种各样的具有特色的rituals and ceremonies 是这些文化区别于其他文化的重要标志。另外,像flag hoisting ceremony and Baptism的确可以带给人一种对于国家或信仰的归属感。
However,任何事情都有它的两面性。我们也应该认识到一些仪式和典礼的确有它的historical liminations,并可能会阻碍一种文化的发展。例如,在中国的农村地区,人们treat woman as inferior to man .所以,他们的ritual就是女人不能喝男人同桌吃饭,必须男人先吃,吃剩的女人再吃。In addition, 世界上有一些地方,婚姻大事是不能自己做主的,必须听从长辈的意见,年轻人失去了free love的权利。显然,这样的礼节并不会让人们产生归属感,而且阻碍了社会的进步。
实际上,礼节和典礼也不是唯一可以define一个culture和让人们有归属感的方面。比如说,建筑,服饰,饮食等等都可以起到同样的作用。泰姬陵是Islamic architecture style的象征,while Stone Garden是Japan的风格;节日中,Korean 喜欢穿Hanbok, while Indian love to put on Lisa;Dumplings are the traditional food of China while Sushi is Japanese favorite. In short, all the aspects above can make a culture distinguished and people there have a strong sense of who they are.
In conclusion, besides 礼节和典礼,很多方面都可以define a culture and make people have a sense of belonging。同时,对于那些阻碍人类和社会发展的礼节典礼,我们也应该勇于摒弃,而不是一位坚持。
Group H tradition and modernization传统和现代
26,27,36,48,54,59,70,75,76,81,84,87,98,102,103,104,110,113,120,125,128,133,139,147,153,173,187,188,189,207,217,221,226,241,244
26"Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."
开头:城市化的进程越来越快(the rapid spread of urbanization),而地球上的土地资源却是有限的,所以有些人建议拆除老建筑来满足当代的需要。而在我们判断是否应该这样做之前,必须弄清楚我们当代的需要究竟是什么。
当一个人漫步于北京老城区,那里远离城市的喧嚣,一切都显得那么平静祥和,无声的老建筑就会向你诉说着这个城市的历史,勾起人们儿时的记忆,让每个来到这里的人都能将浮躁的心平静下来。可现在,这样的老城区已经越来越少了,它们被夷为平地,变成了住宅(residence),商场和喧闹的马路。这就是人们所希望的吗?答案其实是否定的(the answer is no)。
许多朋友在向我抱怨,说现在越来越不喜欢去各地旅游了。因为我们旅游的主要目的就是想要体验不同地方的不同特色和风情,可是当我们走在香港,东京(Tokyo),纽约这种大都市,亦或是其他一些小城镇时,感受到的却都是程式化的摩天大楼(skyscraper)和堵塞的交通。试想有一天,泰姬陵(Taj Mahal)变成了一片住宅,而长城变成了高速公路(highway),世界各地已无历史遗迹,取而代之是拥挤杂乱的现代化设施,那是多么的不堪想象(The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate。)
其实,面对紧迫的用地紧张问题,我们完全可以寻求其他的解决方案。例如,景观设计师和建筑师门发明的屋顶花园(roof garden),不仅缓解了城市的热岛效应(tropical island effect ) 又没有占用城市宝贵的土地,这种创新的思维是值得我们去借鉴的。
结尾:简而言之,一个城市的老建筑是该城市文化的瑰宝,具有很重要的历史和人文价值,在考虑用作它途时,应该进行全面的利弊分析,而不能想当然的(take…for granted)说拆就拆,那样做人们将会be seized with remorse.
*98"Colleges and universities should offer more courses on popular music, film, advertising, and television because contemporary culture has much greater relevance for students than do arts and literature of the past."
189"If people disregard the great works of the past, it is because these works no longer answer the needs of the present."
==================================
历史(个人/大众)(评价一个人)
*48"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
开头:当想起流水别墅(Falling Water),我们就会马上喊出莱特(FrankLloyd Wright)的名字。当说起英格兰足球队,首先会想起队长贝克汉姆(Beckham)。因为他们成了这个建筑或团队的灵魂人物,然而,这并不意味着我们遗忘了为这个项目共同努力的团队,以及同样在赛场上拼搏的队员,只是历史很难准确、完整的记录大众的作用。
我的一个小妹妹曾经在看世界杯的时候问我,为什么每只球队赢得胜利之后都会把一个人抛向空中(toss sb into the air),为什么领trophy cup那么荣耀和激动人心的环节都总是同一个人完成的。其实他个人,往往就是这只球队的captain,也是这支球队的灵魂。他在场上bring the enthusiasm into play,skilled in tactics,控制比赛节奏,没有他,场上会变成一锅粥,球队也很有可能失去cohesion。他也就成为了这支球队的代表和象征。所以我们在和朋友谈论英格兰队的比赛时,往往也是首先想到贝克汉姆,很难将场上每一个球员都想到,但是我们并没有否定场上每一个球员为比赛所做出的贡献。
我们从流水别墅中看到的不是莱特,而是一种将建筑和环境有机结合在一起的新的设计思维和理念(philosophy for the design),我们从球赛中看到的也不只是球队的某个球员,而是他们的合作、坚持和想要赢的信念。而莱特和贝克汉姆仅仅只是这理念和精神的代名词(synonym for)而已。从这个层面上说,记录一个人亦或是记录大众,都是一样的,而显然,前者比后者简便的多。
*36"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."
241"An individual's greatness cannot be judged objectively by his or her contemporaries; the most objective evaluators of a person's greatness are people who belong to a later time."
*76"Truly profound thinkers and highly creative artists are always out of step with their time and their society."
244"Most societies do not take their greatest thinkers seriously, even when they claim to admire them."
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(传统/历史)和现在
*54"History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today."
*120"So much is new and complex today that looking back for an understanding of the past provides little guidance for living in the present."
中国西北曾经是一片茂密的森林,它不仅阻挡了来自北面的寒风,还提供了良好的生态效益。然而,由于人们多年来的乱砍乱伐,现在的西北已经成为了一片荒漠。北方的冷风长驱直入,沙化面积不断扩大,严重威胁了周围数以万计的居民的生存,并对中国的生态环境造成不可逆的破坏。我们从中学到了什么呢?难道仅仅是不能乱砍数木这么简单吗?不是的。类似的事件给人们敲响警钟,那就是要用发展的眼光看问题,坚持sustainable development,take into account both long-term and immediate interests.
现在城市化的进程越来越快,城市用地越来越紧张,有人提出城市应该以缩减公共绿地(public green space)的方法来缓解用地紧张问题,可人们并没有这样做,相反,各个地方都不断的扩大对于公共绿地的建设投资,也越来越重视环境效益,因为人们已经意识到,只顾眼前的利益而不顾长远的生态效益的严重后果。近些年来兴起的屋顶花园,就很好的解决了用地紧张和环境效益之间的矛盾。屋顶花园并不是可以直接从历史中汲取的,可是历史教给我们要用发展的眼光看问题,从而鼓励人们在矛盾之中寻得了平衡,解决了问题。
*147"Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose between them."
传统涉及到人们生活的方方面面,但随着社会的不断发展,传统受到了来自现代化的挑战。我们承认,某些传统和现代化的发展的确是不相容的,然而,有些tradition是不会随着事件改变的;而大多数情况,我们都可以从tradition and modernization中寻得一种平衡。
在一些情况下,我们要勇敢的打破传统,从而接受全新的思维方法和观念。例如,在中国的农村,人们的traditional thinking就是重男轻女,这导致很多女婴的wrongful death以及对妇女的不尊重。而随着reform and opening-up policy,人们渐渐接受了gender equality的新的思想,从而使妇女在农村的地位有所提高,这是有利于社会发展的。同时,新科技的应用也大大提高了生产的效率,传统的farming practices已经不适应社会的需求,而机械化的生产把农民从土地中解放出来。这些事实说明,在某些领域,抛弃传统而选择新方法是有助于人类社会发展的,也是历史的必然选择。
然而,有些传统的价值是不会随着时间的流逝而磨灭的。比如人性中对于真、善、美(the truth, the good and the beautiful)的追求,将会伴随着人类发展的始终,因为基于这样的传统,人们之间才能互相信任,互相帮助,世界才能展现出一种包容的姿态。试想如果我们摒弃了这样的传统,人们只受利益的驱使,那么战争、chaos和instability将会充满我们的世界。
102"For better or worse, education is a process that involves revising the ideas, beliefs, and values people held in the past."
104"It is primarily through formal education that a culture tries to perpetuate the ideas it favors and discredit the ideas it fears."
128"It is often asserted that the purpose of education is to free the mind and the spirit. In reality, however, formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free."
*103"The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives."
81"Patriotic reverence for the history of a nation often does more to impede than to encourage progress." (对国家历史带有爱国主义的崇敬往往会阻碍进步而不是促进)
139"Every new generation needs to redefine 'right' and 'wrong' in its own terms and according to the conditions of its own time."
*226"People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience."
社会的发展日新月异,新技术,新潮流,新思想不断产生,同时也给人类带来了新的问题。这些问题看似比我们的predecessors要复杂的多,可是我们忽略了不同时期的科技的发展水平和人类自身能力的进步,in this sense, 我们无法轻易的判断我们遇到的问题和挑战就要比ancestors复杂。
同时我们也看到,有些问题例如:环境问题,种族问题,战争 and a serious such problems 的解决并不只取决于科技进步的大小或者人类知识的多少,而取决于人们意识的进步——发展的眼光和一颗宽容的心。
133"The problems of modern society have led many people to complain: 'We live in terrible times.' Yet, given the choice, no one today would prefer to live in any other time."
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(历史/传统)和创新
*173"Originality does not mean thinking something that was never thought before; it means putting old ideas together in new ways."
*59"Too much emphasis is placed on role models. Instead of copying others, people should learn to think and act independently and thus make the choices that are best for them."
*68"People make the mistake of treating experts with suspicion and mistrust, no matter how valuable their contributions might be."
*142"The well-being of a society is enhanced when many of its people question authority."
153"Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively."
27"No one can possibly achieve success in the world by conforming to conventional practices and conventional ways of thinking."
75"The people who make important contributions to society are generally not those who develop their own new ideas, but those who are most gifted at perceiving and coordinating the talents and skills of others."
84"In any field of endeavor, it is impossible to make a significant contribution without first being strongly influenced by past achievements within that field."
187"It is easy to welcome innovation and accept new ideas. What most people find difficult, however, is accepting the way these new ideas are put into practice."
217"In order to produce successful original work, scholars and scientists must first study the successful work of others to learn what contributions remain to be made."
188"Success, whether academic or professional, involves an ability to survive in a new environment and, eventually, to change it."
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新手vs老手
*70"In any profession—business, politics, education, government—those in power should step down after five years. The surest path to success for any enterprise is revitalization through new leadership."
任何机构和企业都希望自己可以不断适应社会发展的脚步,取得人们的信赖,并获取成功。In the area of government and politics,in order to limit the power of the leaders, we should give our voters every right to vote for the person they trust in regularly; while for some enterprise and companies, one must weigh the consequences of it.
对大多数政府权力机关,those in power should step down after 5 years. 因为让一个人不加限制的处于领导地位,必然会导致abusive or unjust exercise of power. 而给这份权力加上一个限制,可以cut各个机构之间存在的benefit chain,起到mutual supervise的作用。同时,5年应该是一个很好的period,因为太长了会导致制度rigid,而太短会导致leadership不稳定,影响工作效率,甚至引发混乱。
而对于一些公司企业,频繁的更换leader可能并不是一个明智之举,因为有时候,这个leader已经filter into people’s minds,并成为了这个企业的symbol和这个企业的灵魂,例如Apple Inc的Steve Jobs,他就是保持这个公司活力的whole show;also, 一些designer clothes,建筑设计公司,他们的设计思想和公司的理念已经combine with each other. 在这样的情况下,更换leader显然会对公司的发展产生很大的影响,所以应该更加慎重。
衡量一个政府、公司、企业是否成功的标准不仅仅是看他的领导者,而要看这个团体的综合实力:员工的整体实力,企业的executive force ,cohesion,产品质量等等,公司广纳人才,同样也可以保持生命力和创新能力。
In short, 更换领导的初衷就是想让一个机构或企业更好的发展,换言之,如果一个机构或企业可以通过其他途径很好的发展,那我们也不必formalism,应该灵活应对;即使要以更换领导的方式达到目的,也要多方面考虑,慎重做决定,将它有可能带来的消极影响降到最低。
*87"In any field of inquiry, the beginner is more likely than the expert to make important discoveries."
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Define a culture/ourselves
*207"Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
一些礼节和典礼的确可以help define a culture, 给人们一种归属感。however, some rituals and ceremonies 却会阻碍文化的发展。同时,除了rituals and ceremonies之外,还有很多方面都可以帮助refine a culture.
我们承认,一些rituals and ceremonies的确define a culture. For example, the Spring Festival of China, the Running Bull of Spain, the Chopsticks Day of Japan, the Oktoberfest of Muenchen and etc. 各种各样的具有特色的rituals and ceremonies 是这些文化区别于其他文化的重要标志。另外,像flag hoisting ceremony and Baptism的确可以带给人一种对于国家或信仰的归属感。
However,任何事情都有它的两面性。我们也应该认识到一些仪式和典礼的确有它的historical liminations,并可能会阻碍一种文化的发展。例如,在中国的农村地区,人们treat woman as inferior to man .所以,他们的ritual就是女人不能喝男人同桌吃饭,必须男人先吃,吃剩的女人再吃。In addition, 世界上有一些地方,婚姻大事是不能自己做主的,必须听从长辈的意见,年轻人失去了free love的权利。显然,这样的礼节并不会让人们产生归属感,而且阻碍了社会的进步。
实际上,礼节和典礼也不是唯一可以define一个culture和让人们有归属感的方面。比如说,建筑,服饰,饮食等等都可以起到同样的作用。泰姬陵是Islamic architecture style的象征,while Stone Garden是Japan的风格;节日中,Korean 喜欢穿Hanbok, while Indian love to put on Lisa;Dumplings are the traditional food of China while Sushi is Japanese favorite. In short, all the aspects above can make a culture distinguished and people there have a strong sense of who they are.
In conclusion, besides 礼节和典礼,很多方面都可以define a culture and make people have a sense of belonging。同时,对于那些阻碍人类和社会发展的礼节典礼,我们也应该勇于摒弃,而不是一味坚持。
*113"It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves."
Other:
25,212,29
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(36)*25"Anyone can make things bigger and more complex. What requires real effort and courage is to move in the opposite direction—in other words, to make things as simple as possible."
其实简单和复杂并不是对立的,就像在建筑领域,既有极简主义风格,又有以追求繁杂而著称的巴洛克风格。前者宣扬简单就是美,而后者精雕细琢的风格也带给人美得震撼。它们各具特色,我们不能说哪一种就好与那一种,或是哪一种更加need courage and effort。
In conclusion, 我们将复杂的事物简单化,有助于发掘它的本质。同时,在某些领域,不能追求绝对化的简单。简单和复杂不是对立的,我们应该学会欣赏他们各自的美,而不是一味的追求绝对化的简单。
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*212"If a goal is worthy, then any means taken to attain it is justifiable."
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*29"Public figures such as actors, politicians, and athletes should expect people to be interested in their private lives. When they seek a public role, they should expect that they will lose at least some of their privacy."
*161"In this age of intensive media coverage, it is no longer possible for a society to regard any woman or man as a hero. The reputation of anyone who is subjected to media scrutiny will eventually be diminished."作者: asukasin 时间: 2011-3-6 23:44:45