Iss, facts and wishes

joeshebeUID: 196393

"Facts are stubborn things. They cannot be altered by our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions."

What is meant by ‘facts’ has a lot to do with our ability and attitude to alter so-called facts in concrete situations. Certain occurrences are the realization and outcome of solid truth and cannot be changed, for example, gene makeup of humans and law of nature, even though our wishes, inclinations and passions do affect our perception of facts. .
Sometimes there is an elusive optimism about the ability of individuals to change the outcome of natural processes or social events. People holding this view often shrewdly seek support from the power of modern technology which has enabled man to fundamentally alter the way of living and thinking. Their point is that given the overwhelming strength of industry, everything imaginable is subject to the wish of man. Along this line of reasoning there would not be starvation, poverty, violence or wars besetting mankind bitterly nowadays since what is needed is a few goodwill wishes and prayers.
The point missing is that man can never walk out of the constraints prescribed by laws of nature, let alone change them according to his caprice and ignorance. The limits are imposed upon human ability to alter these rules though there is no stopgap on the ability to study them. Every time we tried to tamper with these fundamental facts that follow from natural law, we suffered from the aftermath as history has seen. Greenhouse effects, El Nilo, poisonous smog and acid rain are the punishment Nature has imposed upon us because of the audacious attempts by some human daredevils to trespass the truth about the harmony that is supposed to be maintained between man and nature. Genetic technology is another sword with two blades bestowed on mankind. Recognizing the fact that gene makeup of individuals underlies what is meant by equal opportunity, anyone should rightly resist the dubious efforts that might lead to the creation of a ‘master race’.
Historical facts are another disproof of human omnipotence. Though there have been imaginations about a kind of ‘time machine’ or ‘time channel’ as some Hollywood pictures devised, no one can deny that time is irreversible. Actually this is a corollary of Einstein’s theory of relativity. What’s more, every historical occurrence has its basic rules concerning its general direction on fundamental truth about social evolution. At least this why we are so confident in the final triumph of democracy and liberty over despotism and bondage – the course of historical events has repeatedly told us so. What we are supposed to do is to find out more truth in historical facts to equip ourselves with the readiness to follow the roadmap of evolution or revolution if necessary.
But the discussion should not be reduced to inactivity and pessimism. Though we are unable to change the stubborn facts coming from fundamental truth, we are ready to acquire them, analyze them and apply them in guiding our further actions. It is in this process that our wishes, inclinations and passions turn out to be influential. When we have negative feelings about something, we tend to be reluctant to approach it objectively to find out facts about it. Our wishes, inclinations often serve to narrow down the scope of facts to what appeals to our prejudgment. Due to so, jurors are selected though a process which ensures that the candidates are not prejudiced or have any inclinations to any party of the trial. Thus though we cannot alter facts, we do not always recognize them as they are. Here passions and wishes project artificial color on the truth we face.
Facts are stubborn and should not be altered by whimsy. But we paint them with the color of our inclinations and passions in perception.

poohUID: 146994

What is meant by ‘facts’ has a lot to do with our ability and attitude to alter so-called facts in concrete situations. 这好像是个循环定义，不能用facts来定义facts吧 Certain occurrences are the realization and outcome of solid truth and cannot be changed, for example, gene makeup of humans genes make up human and law of nature, even though our wishes, inclinations and passions do affect our perception of facts. . thesis 最好不要夹杂例子在里面，因为这是对你观点的整体陈述，例子可以等到下面论证用，或者放到开头来引出thesis

body2  gene的例子没有做到很好的支持TC, anyone should rightly resist the dubious efforts that might lead to the creation of a ‘master race’.跟TC什么关系？

But the discussion should not be reduced to inactivity and pessimism.
discuss能inactive & pessimistic吗

Due to so, jurors are selected though a process which ensures that the candidates are not prejudiced or have any inclinations to any party of the trial.这个例子不合适！跟TC不一致。这个例子讲的是juror不应该受到自己情绪的影响或者不应有成见，但是这段的任务是说明passion 等的积极作用！

poohUID: 146994

注意发贴格式

请回这个帖子https://bbs.gter.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208286

joeshebeUID: 196393

题目："Facts are stubborn things. They cannot be altered by our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions."
时间：1.5 h++(我的天哪！还有不到一个月就考试了：（)
提纲:
1 自然过程及社会发展是愿望和偏好不可更改的事实。
归谬：许愿不能消除贫困和战争
例子：企图摆脱自然规律限制，改变自然现实的行为导致环境恶化
2 人类不能随意更改历史事实。
时间的不可逆转性+历史规律的幕后作用
3 愿望倾向的作用在于影响人们对事实的认识过程。

正文
The definition of ‘facts’ largely determines our ability and attitude to alter the reality it refers to in concrete situations. Certain occurrences are the realization and outcome of solid truth and cannot be changed, even though our wishes, inclinations and passions do affect our perception of facts.

Sometimes there is an elusive optimism about the ability of individuals to change the outcome of natural processes or social events. People holding this view often shrewdly seek support from the power of will which has enabled many of us to overcome the adversities and succeed in everyday life. Their point is that given the strength of a willing heart, everything imaginable is subject to the wish of man. Along this line of reasoning there would not be starvation, poverty, violence or wars besetting mankind bitterly nowadays since the only thing needed is a few goodwill wishes and prayers.

The point missing is that man can never walk out of the constraints prescribed by laws of nature, let alone change them according to his caprice and ignorance. The limits are imposed upon human ability to alter these rules though there is no stopgap on the ability to study them. Every time we tried to tamper with these fundamental facts that follow from natural law, we suffered from the aftermath as history has seen. Greenhouse effects, El Nilo, poisonous smog and acid rain are the punishment Nature has imposed upon us because of the audacious attempts by some human daredevils to trespass the truth about the harmony that is supposed to be maintained between man and nature.

Historical facts are another disproof of human omnipotence. Though there have been imaginations about a kind of ‘time machine’ or ‘time channel’ as some Hollywood pictures devised, no one can deny that time is irreversible. Actually this is a corollary of Einstein’s theory of relativity. What’s more, every historical occurrence has its basic rules concerning its general direction on fundamental truth about social evolution. At least this why we are so confident in the final triumph of democracy and liberty over despotism and bondage – the course of historical events has repeatedly told us so. What we are supposed to do is to find out more truth in historical facts to equip ourselves with the readiness to follow the roadmap of evolution or revolution if necessary.

But my point should not be reduced to inactivity and pessimism. Though we are unable to change the stubborn facts coming from fundamental truth, we are ready to acquire them, analyze them and apply them in guiding our further actions. It is in this process that our wishes, inclinations and passions turn out to be influential. When we have negative feelings about something, we tend to be reluctant to approach it objectively to find out facts about it. Our wishes, inclinations often serve to narrow down the scope of facts to what appeals to our prejudgment. Due to so, jurors are selected though a process which ensures that the candidates are not prejudiced or have any inclinations to any party of the trial. Thus though we cannot alter facts, we do not always recognize them as they are. Here passions and wishes project artificial color on the truth we face.

Facts are stubborn and should not be altered by whimsy. But we paint them with the color of our inclinations and passions in perception.

joeshebeUID: 196393

感谢pooh JJ 的辛苦工作 ：D