ISSUE177 学科给我们新的视角【求拍，有拍必回】

爱上千年的猫UID: 2476232

TOPIC: ISSUE177 - "The study of an academic discipline alters the way we perceive the world. After studying the discipline, we see the same world as before, but with different eyes."
WORDS: 558
TIME: 00:40:00
DATE: 2010-3-22 19:22:16

If a latest published high-tech product, say iPad, is displayed in front of you, what the first comment you'll have for it? Some may say its appearance looks like a bigger iPhone. Others may consider how much it will sell. While others may wonder how fast it can connect to Wi-Fi. Most likely, those holding different opinions may work in different fields or are engaged in different academic disciplines. That is, the way we perceive the world has much to do with our knowledge background. In this sense, I fundamentally agree with the speaker's assertion that the study of an academic discipline can enable see the same world with different perspectives.

It is true that some rare cases do exist that people will not be affected by what they studied. If one who major in classical music simple tries to remember the titles of Mozart's works without further understanding of the emotions and background Mozart created those pieces, he will not gain an additional view observing and understanding the world of classical music. Or if a student in finance never concerns the economic development of the world, he would not have any different view toward the recent global financial crisis. No more to say commenting the policies each country implements. For them, the study of their academic disciplines stops at a superficial stage. Without further investigation and thinking of the disciplines, they still see the world as before.

Luckily, the above cases are rare in fact. Most people, especially those who have at least finished college education, have a much deeper understanding of what they learned. One of the purposes of academic education is to help people form a suitable view towards the world, the value, and the life. These views can be different from one field to another since they concentrate on various aspects. But we should notice that it is the various views that compose a more comprehensive understanding towards a specific thing, or even the world. For example, the view from biology students brings the understanding of the human being for substance perspective. While the students in history provide view point from the culture side. And the discipline of philosophy inspects human being from the ideological aspect. Combining them together, we get a bigger picture of ourselves.

Besides the essential purpose of academic disciplines, people want to gain a particular view in their own fields on their own initiatives. Since our energy and ability are limited, it is impossible for us to learn all disciplines to gain a comprehensive view. Therefore, communication and cooperation between people engaged in different disciplines are required. Turn back to the example mentioned at the beginning. The iPad is a product that combines different views. Those majored in technique will catch the latest trend in technology and design the product. Those majored in business will have a clear view about what marketing strategy is the best to publicize the product. And those who majored in project management are good at planning the whole process from financing to after-sales service. Thanks to the various views they hold in their own disciplines, a successful product is possible to come out.

In sum, the study of academic disciplines enables us seeing the same world using different views. Thus we gain a better understanding of the world as well as create more successful careers.


1. main idea: fundamentally agree
2. -: if not learn by heart and try to apply on one's own initiatives, cannot be:
3. +: one of the purposes of academic discipline is to inform a view perspective thus different views can bring more broad understanding--through communication
4. +: Only when one owns a view that he could be win in his field--cooperation
5. sum