issue41 graduate06--Hamming组 自己的冲刺issue作业第12篇

graduate06UID: 2223299

TOPIC: ISSUE41 - "Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
WORDS: 560          TIME: 45:00        DATE: 2007-1-27      错字：15

Admittedly, in some extent, the nonmainstream areas of inquiry mentioned in the statement such as astrology and fortune-telling and so forth satisfy human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science. However, the statement that they play a vital role in society is real or imagined is shown in the examples of the prosperous of the dynasty and the cheat in our society.

There is not to deny the fact that, in some extent, the nonmainstream areas of research have some merits. For one thing, we always face many choices, and some of them are crucial, it is difficult to make decisions because we are afraid that we will feel regret and remorse when in retrospect the decisions we made turn out to be poor ones. In other cases, people are hesitated and indecisive in making decisions because they lake courage and confidence to confront the challenges and risks. Naturally, people tend to turn to the palmistry and astrology help so as to shift the burden of deciding. Besides, being separated from our loved ones such as parents and lover by death is the most misery in the world. many people cannot suffer such pressure of agony. They hope to get deeper connection to the dead ones. This is revealed in the people's enduring enthusiasm to the so-called "afterlife" and the hereafter.

Moreover, sometimes, the nonmainstream areas of study play a role in society. One telling example involves a story of the Song Dynasty's first emperor Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Kuangyin was known as Emperor Gaozu. Originally, he is mere a header of a local armed forces. Some of his followers suggested him to resist and overturn the corrupt Zhou Dynasty, but he was indecisive due to his weak strength. Occasionally, a astrologer told him he would be a great person because of his abnormal horoscope, he was encouraged and inspired by that prediction. Since then he actively prepared and seized any opportunity to strengthen and develop his force. At last he conquered other states and founded the Song Dynasty. Without the astrologer may be Zhao Kuangyin could not decide to fight against the rulers, and the history might change a lot.

More generally, however, the part of the nonmainstream areas of inquiry just is limited, it is unsuitable to state that they play a vital role in society. In fact, they are not on the basis of reason, so they cannot be evaluated and confirmed. Some people might make use of this nature to cheat for money. For instance, in China several years ago, Hu Daxian claimed that he could predict one's future by the extrasensory perception and cure patient by supernatural force. A huge number of people went to see him for help, he charged a large amount of money from the patients and became household man soon. However, after a short time, an increasing number of people found that their symptoms of diseases had not alleviated at all after his "treatments". At last, scientists found and confirmed he was a charlatan.

As far as I am concerned, the nonmainstream areas of inquiry such as astrology and fortune-telling and so forth do indeed satisfy human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science. However, it is a little overstated to say that they play a vital role in society. Actually, they nearly influence the development of society.