ISSUE 153 还望大家指教！

暮野长歌UID: 2686695

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

The speaker contents that students should bring a skeptical attitude in study, and should question what they are taught actively. Aside from undue skepticism, I strong agree with the speaker's broad assertion. If we always accepted the faiths passively in our study, our society would lose the power of progress.

The realm of physical sciences perhaps skepticism is the most important character for the scientists. It is well known that nothing in science is absolutely certain, a conclusion of today are always removed and replaced by a new concept of tomorrow. As a matter of fact, it is the scientists’ constantly doubt to those fixed notions that push the history of physics forward. For example, Copernicus, the science giant of the Renaissance, advanced the theory that the earth and other planets revolve around the sun, disrupting the Ptolemaic system of astronomy. In fact, the Heliocentric theory is an achievement of doubting to the authority. In other words, it is the skepticism that sets the natural science free from the theology.

Even in the traditional Chinese medicine, the experience are highly valued realm, also needs the spirit of suspicion. If doctors were all having blind faith in the traditional prescription, the Chinese medicine would not have the brilliant achievements of today. For instance, Li Shizhen, one of the greatest doctors of traditional Chinese medicine in the Chinese history, found that there were too many mistakes about the knowledge of the classic traditional medicine books and medicine concepts. Then, he determined to revise and prefect them. Through 29 years’ research, he finished the great medicine book - Compendium of materia medica.

Admittedly, extreme skepticism can cause inhibit learning. We can not just doubt for the purpose of doubting, this kind of skepticism only has destructiveness but without constructive criticism, proposals and remarks. The doubt must found on knowing the foundation knowledge of certain subject. A student of humanity to criticize a famous astronomer is unwarrantable. In other words, learners must have a deep understanding of the subject first. Only in this way can avoid that learners fall into the extreme skepticism's trap and make our learning more efficiency.

To sum up, except for the extreme skepticism, I concede that the speaker’s assertion is fundamentally correct. There are no perfect things in the world, the same as our cognitions. I believe our concepts and knowledge need to perfect and revise constantly, no matter which realm they are in. Thus, our society will not lose the motive force to go forward.

暮野长歌UID: 2686695

不知道李时珍的例子合不合适。。。。。。