issue153

hellogtUID：2763670

TOPIC: ISSUE153 - "Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively.

It is well known that where deficiency exists, improvement exists. Accordingly, Skepticism and innovation can make our society go further. To cultivate students to embrace the kind of ability, students should be told to learn knowledge critically, not merely absorb passively.

As the purpose of science is to explore the unknown and propel the society forward, scientists equipped with Skepticism will enable their research to conform to it better. In consideration of the Newton's classic theory, it has been regarded as the one closest to truth and is suitable for all materials. However, Max Born, a physicist in Germany, dissented from it after proposing his basic assumption of quantum mechanics. As the development of quantum theory, physicists and chemists have found that those classic mechanics are not applicable in microcosmic world. Bohr is right! This story convinces us that even if the most classic theory may be not perfect as well, let alone others. As a matter of fact, there are many theories requiring us to complete them.

When it comes to students, as the pillar of society in the near future, they should be equipped with the virtue-skepticism, which will enable them to discern the real from the unreal, the true from the false and the surface from the internality. The knowledge they have learned in class is based on the experience of our predecessors, some of which may consist of some flaws not been discovered. Therefore, it is necessary for the students to question what they have been imparted. By collecting references about the issues they face, they can gain a deep understanding of them. In addition, having failed to get the result expected, they can resort to the professors. In this path to ultimate truth, they will have their critical and analytical thinking enhanced. as well as knowledge acquired. On the other hand, if the students can only absorb the knowledge passively, they will be close-minded and have no fresh ideas and the society will be at a standstill.

But it is not to say that students should bring skepticism to whatever they learn. As knowledge which they have learned is not sufficient and their way of thinking is not mature enough, to do so will really make them confused and usually, it is a waste of time. Those questions, such as why can water quench fire, can’t be explained clearly, for it is just natural phenomenon. In addition, having no restriction on questioning everything will have menace on the society. Thus, the skepticism is recommended only within certain scope.

In conclusion, students should be recommended to question what they have learned and not merely absorb the knowledge passively. It is beneficial for the improvement of our society, especially for science and technology. As we are in a society that information acquired more conveniently, if students fail to learn and accept it critically and selectively, they will probably lose their bearings on the sea of information and data. On the other hand, to avoid unnecessary problems, they should stick to the certain scope.

hellogtUID：2763670

TOPIC: ISSUE153 - "Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively.

It is well known that where deficiency exists, improvement exists. Through doubting what they have learned and finding out possible deficiencies, one may enhance the exiting theory or improve the level of technologies after taking appropriate measures. Accordingly, Skepticism and innovation can make our society go further. To cultivate students to embrace the kind of ability, teachers should enable students to learn knowledge critically, not merely absorb passively.

To begin with, the purpose of science is to explore the unknown. The discovery of the unknown worlds require us to have a curious mind. Thus, only scientists equipped with Skepticism will they enable their research to conform to it better. In consideration of the Newton's Laws of Motion, it was regarded as the most universal theory in the world. However, Max Born, a physicist in Germany, wondered its exactness when applying this theory to quantum. After taking very much experimental work, he dissented from it openly when proposing his basic assumption of quantum mechanics. As the development of quantum theory, physicists and chemists have found that those classic mechanics are not applicable in microcosmic world. Bohn is right! This story convinces us that even if the most classic theory may be not perfect as well, let alone others. It reminds us to learn knowledge with the attitude of skepticism, not just memory it.


When it comes to schools, especially colleges, students should be encouraged to keep a doubtful mind and give questions to what they have learned at class and not absorb knowledge passively. For the question that has been solved by predecessors, they can find out the answer after resorting to books and references. But for those which they fail to acquire the solutions, they can communicate it with other students and resort to teachers. Even though the questions have not been solved finally, students also participate in the process of learning. In fact, this is the authentic channel to acquire knowledge. That is: to question, to enjoy the process of solving your own questions.

But it is not to say that students should bring skepticism to whatever they learn. As knowledge which they have learned is not sufficient and their way of thinking is not mature enough, to do so will really make them confused and usually, it is a waste of time. When first learning physics at middle school, each individual may feel that it is so abstruse that most physical concepts are beyond our understanding. At that time, asking those questions, such as how could we understand Einstein's Relativity, would confuse us completely. In addition, having no restriction on questioning everything will have menace on the society. Some may ask this question: why can’t one country develop nuclear weapons? They incline to hold the idea that one country will not be scared of other countries once possessing nuclear weapons such as atom bomb. Thus,the skepticism is recommended only within certain scope.

In conclusion, students should be recommended to question what they have learned and not merely absorb the knowledge passively. It is beneficial for the improvement of our society, especially for science and technology. As we are in a society that information acquired more conveniently, if students fail to learn and accept it critically and selectively, they will probably lose their bearings on the sea of information and data. On the other hand, to avoid unnecessary problems, they should stick to the certain scope.