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题目:ISSUE 42 - "such nonmainstream areas of inqury as astrology, fortune-telling , and psychic and paranornal pursuits pllay a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
字数:860 用时:1:30:00 日期:2006-12-21
It is universally acknowledged that such non-mainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits have exaggerated impact on people's daily life. They are prone to resort these issues to satisfy their needs which are not approached by mainstream science. The conflicts between non-mainstream subjects and mainstream science are increasingly dramatic nowadays. Although there are several reasons for the existence of non-mainstream areas, their reliability and credibility can not be justified and the negative effects caused by overdependence on them should not be ignored.
There are many problems that the mainstream science can not solve leave room for non-mainstream pursuits. People can satisfy their curiosity about unknown world, nature and life by inquiry in non-mainstream areas. In ancient China, lots of mysterious natural phenomena can not be explained by limited knowledge at that time, our progenitors tended to ascribe them to paranormal power. They could not figure out why a lunar eclipse happened and often were daunted by it. Failing to find a reasonable interpretation, old people mistakenly believed that it was a dog that lived in the sky eat the moon. In order to save their moon, hardly did a lunar eclipse happen old people beat gongs to intimidate the dog to vomit the moon out. As for modern people who understand that lunar eclipse merely a normal natural astronomical phenomenon occurs when moon, earth and sun get their positions in a line, the belief of dog eating moon is ridiculous. Nonetheless, in ancient time when people were ignorant of the true causes of natural phenomena, the old way to explain events was to turn to non-mainstream areas which played vital role as resources of truth.
Another major function of the non=mainstream areas of inquiry is to comfort people who are uncertain about their future. Although modern science and technology have gain extraordinary progress, there are many realms in human life pure science knowledge can not reach, especially spiritual and psychological realm. It is expected for people to find reassurance from outsides issues in areas of astrology or fortune-telling. Hulei, a senior college student in Beijing university, will take part in poster graduation examination. He has told that if he would have the examination tomorrow or have important tasks to accomplish, he would like to check astrology book to test his fortune on that day. Even if the testing result is not exactly right, he could at least get pacification deeply in heart. Therefore, owing to apprehension to insecurities and unpredictable disasters in future, human will keep on pursuing for various consolation of mind which contains astrology, fortune-telling or psychic and paranormal issues.
Nevertheless, without meaning of evaluating the legitimacy of consequences of non-mainstream pursuits, human society is vulnerable to deleterious outcomes produced by them. Lots of evidences demonstrate that assertions, predictions and generalizations derived from non-mainstream areas are rarely correct. In 1609, Galileo who had been obsessed with astrology made a horoscope for a duke and forecasted that this duke would live for a long time. Ironically, after few weeks, this duck die of an accident. Such ridiculous prophecies still pervades in modern society. A famous one is in 1999 that the appearance of Mars, as an emblem of grave wars ,will bring catastrophe for human. It is undeniable that motion of planet will bring some impacts on earth which range from interruption of transmission of electric signals from tides, some of which has been comprehensively appreciated by human. While as soon as enigmatic astronomical phenomena take place, some astrologer would fabricate sensational prophecies about impending catastrophe. Irrational and unconditional trust in these so-called prophecies will result in chaos in entire society.
Furthermore, as for individuals who rely heavily on astrology, fortune-telling and paranormal issues, they would more likely to isolate themselves from normal social lives. Although these issues might help some people feel better about themselves, their pursuits for these issues are not rooted in rationality and of no tangible value to either individual or society. Survey indicates that people who can not achieve their objectives and realize their ambitions in real world would have tendency to fall back on such unrealistic pursuits to appease their depression. Unfortunately, these recourses in turn render them reluctance face the real world in which they never obtain their successes. For example, some fanatics of Falonggong entirely live in their own world. What they believe are merely heretical and evil ideas instilled by Falonggong, which touts illusory and supernatural power and even claim that people who trust it need not to eat and sleep. As result of that, its fanatics never participate in normal social activities again and become indifferent to their friends and families. Finally, they would generate sense of self-deception, false hopes, detrimental delusion and adverse to entire society. Overall, it is necessary for people to avoid these harmful outcomes of these senseless pursuits.
In summary, as long as perplexed questions beyond the reach of science, non-mainstream pursuit will still exist as the companion's of science. To some extent they can serve as positive complement as mainstream knowledge, but it is essential and indispensable for individuals and entire society to prevent bad effects generated by them.
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