ISSUE153=August Rush= 考前冲刺 by Mason.PD

Mason.PDUID: 2592013

153. "Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively."
153. 学生应该带着一定的怀疑态度对待所学的任何东西。他们应该对教给他们的东西应该进行质疑，而不是被动地接受。


【中心】
质疑精神在学习和科学研究中无疑扮演着重要角色，但是盲目的质疑只会妨碍有效的思考
【正】
质疑在学习上能有效思考---反例，八股文
【正】
质疑给科学研究带来新发现---量子理论，相对论
【反】
盲目质疑会带来妨害

Mason.PDUID: 2592013

TOPIC: ISSUE153 - "Students should bring a certain skepticism to whatever they study. They should question what they are taught instead of accepting it passively."
WORDS: 616
TIME: 00:53:17
DATE: 2009/8/10 16:08:55

As the old proverb says, "Never stop your skepticism to the new knowledge." It is obvious to see skepticism plays a crucial role in study. Moreover, skepticism can also bring advanced thoughts and insightful ideas to science technology. Although skepticism is such an important element in students' learning proceeding, it does not mean students should excessively question whatever they are taught, which may cumber their effective thinking.

To begin with, it is no denying that effective skepticism can provide students innovative thoughts and particular ideas absorbing new knowledge rather than accepting it passively. With an attitude of skepticism and engaging in discussion and debate, students will think deeply about theories, forming their own comprehension and comparing with others' opinions. Through the process, they can understand new theories thoroughly and have a deep impression about them. Conversely, if students simply accept what they are taught passively, they only remember those facts and formulas momently, and they may not truly understand them. Take eight-legged essays that Chinese pedantry reciting as an example. These doltish and useless essays forced by stupid Imperial Examination system only ask students to recite theories passively without any questions. However, these essays may be memorized at that time, but they will fade away in students' brains quickly, which definitely impede Chinese elites’ development in the 18th century.

Moreover, skepticism is an essential quality in scientific researches. Not a single theory in science, however perfect they seem to be, can be undoubtedly proved to be true. Many major discoveries are based on the skepticism about the previous theories and ideas. Two of the most brilliant discoveries in physics in 20th century are quantum mechanics and relativity. Quantum mechanics toppled the magnificent building of classic physics. It was some young physicists who established quantum mechanics, while some more famous physicists contributing little because they fear to doubt classic physics. In the same way, relativity, which was developed by Einstein when he was only 26, fundamentally changed our view of time and space. Lorentz, who established a set of equations that was exactly equal important to the one by Einstein, stuck to the traditional idea of time and space and did not obtain great honor of developing relativity. We can see even the axiom and truth about space and time can be imperfect through questioning, so what else cannot be skeptical about? Students are the keys to open endless scientific treasure, so it is necessary for them to get used to being skeptical.

However, excessive skepticism to whatever they are taught can be harmful to students' effective thinking. This common sense can be testified true especially when reaching some facts being proved millions of times. Endless questions to the objective truth will definitely waste students’ power and energy to do some more important thinking. Take the perpetual motion machine as an example. Lots of inventors has failed to develop it and it has been proved that it breach the conversation of energy. If a student still sticks to question the phenomenon and the axiom, he/she will take a long way to reach the conclusion. What's more, for a young-aged student who lacks the cognition to judge the facts' causes and effects, it is better for them to follow with teachers steps to think about the truth rather than question all they are taught at the beginning. Therefore, frequent doubting in wrong time and in wrong way will impede students' development.

To sum up, certain skepticism can have an effective impact on students' learning. Meanwhile, it is an essential element in scientific researches. However, constant skepticism in wrong time and in wrong way definitely cumbers effective thinking, especially for young students. So we must consider skepticism correctly.