Issue41 【Aspire小组】

iamstoicUID: 2294314

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: 379          TIME: 0:45:00 内379字符     DATE: 2007-2-23

Do such nonmainstream fields of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a significant role in society? The speaker claims so, for he/she asserts that these areas could satisfy human needs that are not dealt with by mainstream science. I concede that before mainstream science can address all the problems existing among human beings, people often resort to such nonmainstream areas of inquiry, otherwise, in my view, the speaker overemphasizes the role played by such nonmainstream areas in society.

Admittedly, the theories of mainstream sciences, whether it be among the mathematics, medicine, physics, chemistry, and so on, cannot figure out all the problems existing in this world. Furthermore, the rapid technological change has led to an era full of increasingly complex life and psychological displacement among human beings. Confronted by the seemingly mysterious problems that mainstream science cannot resolve, some people cannot help depending on the other area of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling and so forth. For instance, in the countryside of China, before a man and woman get married, their parents or relatives usually hold that it is necessary to consult the fortune-teller about whether they are suitable to each other, since it is widely accepted that marriage is like a lottery. At these times, it seems that these nonmainstream areas are of great importance and do meet human needs.

However, people who believe in astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits are not aware of the nature of these areas. Multitudes of statistics show that even if the couple ask the fortune-tellers about their fate of marriage before they get married, it is possible for the couple to get divorced. Why? Marriage is not a simple word, it says too much: it should be based on true love and requires the couple to understand and support each other, and so forth. Whether the marriage is successful or not does not rely on what the fortune-tellers say but on how the couple manage their own marital life. It is mysterious and interesting to think that two strangers, without blood ties, will live together and form a new family for the rest of their life, which is attributed by some people to their fate in before-life - this item cannot be addressed by mainstream science since it is posed by such nonmainstream areas. Nonetheless, none of these nonmainstream areas, be it fortune-telling or psychic pursuits, can figure out those mysteries because they are based on objective conjecture rather than facts - there is no before-life or after-life and any individual would not lead a happy life without any endeavor – that is, one’s own fate is determined by oneself and not decided or predicted by such nonmainstream theories.

In the final analysis, there exist some nonmainstream areas of inquiry, but the speaker attaches too much weight to its importance, at least to some extent. Although the majority of us may believe “ Man proposes, God disposes”, it does not necessarily indicate that astrology, along with other similar areas of inquiry, play a vital role in society, since opportunity will come to those who are well-prepared through their own efforts. After all, we are now no longer living at the mercy of some paranormal strength after Newton's great contribution - the discovery of gravity.


[ 本帖最后由 iamstoic 于 2007-2-23 19:03 编辑 ]

seven741UID: 2260128

Do such nonmainstream fields of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a significant role in society? The speaker claims so, for he/she asserts that these areas could satisfy human needs that are not dealt with by mainstream science. I concede that before mainstream science can address all the problems existing among human beings, people often resort to such nonmainstream areas of inquiry,[;] otherwise[个人觉得用but更贴切，毕竟不是表示否则的意思], in my view, the speaker overemphasizes the role played by such nonmainstream areas in society.

Admittedly, the theories of mainstream sciences, whether it be among the mathematics, medicine, physics, chemistry, and so on, cannot figure out all the problems existing in this world. Furthermore, the rapid technological change has led to an era full of increasingly complex life and psychological displacement among human beings. Confronted by[with] the seemingly mysterious problems that mainstream science cannot resolve, some people cannot help depending on the other area of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling and so forth. For instance, in the countryside of China, before a man and woman get married, their parents or relatives usually hold that it is necessary to consult the fortune-teller about whether they are suitable to each other, since it is widely accepted that marriage is like a lottery.[尽管写给老外看，但是还是应该负责吧：),不如老实一点写成：since they tend to believe marriage is something according to divine's will which fortune-teller can perceive.] At these times, it seems that these nonmainstream areas are of great importance and do meet human needs.

However, people who believe in astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits are not aware of the nature of these areas. Multitudes of statistics show that even if the couple ask the fortune-tellers about their fate of marriage[意思应该是算命的说双方八字合：the fortune-teller has nodded their marriage] before they get married, it is possible for the couple to get divorced. Why? Marriage is not a simple word, it says too much: it should be based on true love and requires the couple to understand and support each other, and so forth[这个不直接回击算命先生的结论啊]. Whether the marriage is successful or not does not rely on what the fortune-tellers say but on how the couple manage their own marital life. It is mysterious and interesting to think that two strangers, without blood ties, will live together and form a new family for the rest of their life, which is attributed by some people to their fate in before-life - this item cannot be addressed by mainstream science since it is posed by such nonmainstream areas.[自己翻译成中文看看通吗？呵呵 没有sense啊] Nonetheless, none of these nonmainstream areas, be it fortune-telling or psychic pursuits, can figure out those mysteries because they are based on objective conjecture rather than facts - there is no before-life or after-life and any individual would not lead a happy life without any endeavor – that is, one’s own fate is determined by oneself and not decided or predicted by such nonmainstream theories. [本段的反驳，个人觉得写得不好，老外估计都不太看得明白。要是回击的话就直接写出算命先生的谬误，不要分析什么婚姻双方如何相处，这不能说明他的错误]

In the final analysis, there exist some nonmainstream areas of inquiry, but the speaker attaches too much weight to its importance, at least to some extent. Although the majority of us may believe “ Man proposes, God disposes”, it does not necessarily indicate that astrology, along with other similar areas of inquiry, play a vital role in society[具体写，比如：play a vital role in determing every individual's success], since opportunity will come to those who are well-prepared through their own efforts. After all, we are now no longer living at the mercy of some paranormal strength after Newton's great contribution - the discovery of gravity.[结尾总结得不够strong]

需要加油了，虽然语言真得不错啦，但是意思还是欠点～（我对别人比较挑，不代表我自己水平好^_^，别介意，批对的请笑纳，批错的请指出）

[ 本帖最后由 seven741 于 2007-2-23 22:12 编辑 ]