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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.
从主要城市中,我们可以看到这个society最亮丽的一面,他向我们展示着这个社会最发达地区人们的精神风貌,也通过老建筑,老街道向我们诉说着这个城市发展的历史和这个国家的特色文化。
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。
现在,我们要了解一个社会的主要特征,还是应该去农村或是郊区,看这个社会中最主要群体的生活状态。一方面,许多文化古迹在那里都保存的十分完好,他们真实的反映了这个社会文化深刻的历史渊源和文化的多样性。例如,中国也是一个多民族国家,如果只看到大城市单一的文化形态,就不会真正了解中国各少数民族丰富各异的文化特色。另一方面,只有了解这个社会最主要群体的生产力发展水平,才能全面的评判一个社会的经济发展水平。例如,中国是一个发展中国家,如果仅仅看到Peking,Shanghai等主要城市的繁荣景象,怎么会想到在中国中部,西部正在遭受贫穷、失业困扰的上亿农民!怎会想到中国日益拉大的贫富差距和发展的极端不平衡! 也就不会真正理解这个社会的最主要特征。
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。
社会中被奉为偶像的人有很多,不同年龄不同背景的人,会选择不同的偶像。有些偶像比如某领域的精英人士成功并且慈善:微软Bill Gates,有些偶像比如影视娱乐界明星引领潮流:Britney Spears,有些偶像甚至是真实中不存在的幻想偶像: Spiderman,Superman。
他们身上的确拥有社会大众所推崇的某些特质,但他们大多是理想化的,不是在社会中普遍存在的。因为社会中的大部分人并不富有,fashion,更不会拥有超能力!所以,我们要了解一个社会的特征,应该研究这个社会中占大多数的普通人真实的生活状态。
例如,中国是一个发展中国家,如果仅仅看到那些被奉为偶像的人光鲜亮丽的生活,一定觉得社会怎么会想到在中国中部,西部正在遭受贫穷、失业困扰的上亿农民!怎会想到中国日益拉大的贫富差距和发展的极端不平衡! 也就不会真正理解这个社会的最主要矛盾和特征。
我们只有了解了社会大多数人的生活状态,才能判断一个社会的物质生活水平;只有了解大多数人对于某一事物的看法,才能了解一个社会的价值取向。
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。
有人也许会说,不同的文化不具备可比性。但是我们应该认识到,任何人类文化都是有一定的共性的,都在一定程度上相关联,从工具的使用到文字的产生,再到现代高科技的发展。而我们就是要从普遍的共性之中寻找文化之间的不同。
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."
Withhold information对于领导者来说是必要的,毕竟有些信息属于个人隐私或国家机密,是不能向大众透露的。但有时候,领导者的隐瞒信息也会给社会造成重大的隐患。所以,在衡量这条信息是否应该公之于众时,衡量标准应该是这种withhold是否会影响到国家安全或长远发展。
领导者也是凡人,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。
涉及到国家机密的info是不能向民众说的。比如说战争时,leader不可能将本国战略告诉民众,这样,让敌方知道了,战争就要失败了。比如说国家的一些打击犯罪的措施和计划,比如打击贩毒,打击恐怖组织,要是公布于众,就很难达到效果了。比如说一些高端科技的研究成果,核心技术所保留的,涉及到知识产权和国家的利益。
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。
涉及到国家机密的info是不能说的。比如说战争时,leader不可能将本国战略告诉民众,这样,让敌方知道了,战争就要失败了。比如说国家的一些打击犯罪的措施和计划,比如打击贩毒,打击恐怖组织,要是公布于众,就很难达到效果了。比如说一些高端科技的研究成果,核心技术所保留的,涉及到知识产权和国家的利益。但是他们回避这些问题并不代表着他们不诚实,他们只是在维护自己国家的利益。
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。
另一方面,一项研究在未完成之前也是很难确定是否会contribution的,一些潜在的贡献也许是人们无法预测的。Ex:Nicolaus Copernicus提出的hiliocentricism在当时是不被认可甚至是荒谬的,但我们不能否认它的价值何在科学史上的作用。 So,我们不能仅凭C来判断,因为我们的理解能力maybe是有局限性的。
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."
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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."
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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。
商业上,需要诚实守信,这样才有利于公司企业长远发展。如果只顾眼前利益,丧失名誉,那么就很难恢复。Ex:牛奶,三氯氰胺,使很多牛奶企业丧失信誉,一蹶不振。
政治上,一个领导人往往是一个地区或国家的代表,他的一言一行都代表了一个国家的形象,所以他一定要保持较高的道德修养,也给国民做出一个表率。试想一个道德缺失的leader,是得不到人们信赖的。
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."
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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."
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