issue41 第九篇

donglinjieshiUID: 2164764

41"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."

From my point of view, such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role by satisfying human needs in ancient times when science had not been well developed and natural phenomena can only be interpreted as god showed his spirit. But, as mankind delves deeper and deeper into the nature, mainstream science has replaced nonmainstream areas of inquiry in satisfying human needs.

First of all, some nonmainstream areas of inquiry satisfied ancient people’s curiosities and became origins of modern science. Our ancestors’ pursuit of interpreting such nature events as eclipses of sun or moon, comets, and cycle of planets ultimately gave birth to some major disciplines of modern science. For example, kings in around 4000 BC usually provided positions to seers or priests to read the sky. These seers who were among the earliest astrologists were always under quite a bit of pressure to foresee, because they had to indicate the influence that heavenly bodies and their movements had on mankind correctly. Therefore, to maintain their power and have their ruler pleased, the astrologists had to take extensive astronomical observations and put accurate mathematics into their prediction such as eclipses of the moon; thus contributing greatly to the later development of laws of astronomy.         

Secondly, nonmainstream area of inquiry was able to comfort people who got diseases that could not be cured by medicine at that time. For example, ancient healers employed precious gems or crystals to treat diseases. People believed that different gems affect different organs by transforming energy, which can restore balances in human energy fields and thus promote health. Although it is seemed that crystal healing has no more effect than in spirit by modern-day medicine. It is assured that people’s belief that this treatment could get rid of their diseases is likely to comfort them and cast a positive effect on their health.

Finally, as our knowledge about the nature goes deeper and deeper, the important role in meeting people‘s need used to be played by nonmainstream areas of inquiry, or pseudoscience, have been replaced by science. As we know, science is a tight theoretical system and seeks the truth from facts. In contrast, pseudoscience usually covers the truth from being revealed by misconstruing natural phenomena and twisting the real situation of matters. That is why nowadays, very few people still hold believes that destiny is determined based on the day one was born, or the sun, the moon and Venus are the homes of gods, or diseases can be conquered by spirit rather than medical therapy. Were we uncomfortable, we could go to the hospital; were we ignorant of a certain field, we could consult to the specialist. Therefore, the conclusion can be drawn that such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits has come to an end as human society progressed.

Nowadays, most people tend to believe that it is only those ill educated person who would still believe things such as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits. But no one can deny the significance that these nonmainstream areas of inquiry used to have in history.

[ 本帖最后由 donglinjieshi 于 2006-3-8 18:37 编辑 ]

reffoUID: 2185625

41"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."

From my point of view, such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role by satisfying human needs in ancient times when science had not been well developed and natural phenomena can only be interpreted as god showed his spirit(感觉AS后跟名词). But（不能单独出现）, as mankind delves deeper and deeper（increasingly deep） into the nature, mainstream science has replaced nonmainstream areas of inquiry in satisfying human needs.

First of all, some nonmainstream areas of inquiry satisfied ancient people’s curiosities and became origins of modern science. Our ancestors’ pursuit of interpreting such nature events as eclipses of sun or moon, comets, and cycle of planets ultimately gave birth to some major disciplines of modern science. For example, kings in around 4000 BC usually provided positions to seers or priests to read the sky. These seers who were among the earliest astrologists were always under quite a bit of pressure to foresee, because they had to indicate the influence that heavenly bodies and their movements had on mankind correctly. Therefore, to maintain their power and have their ruler pleased, the astrologists had to take extensive astronomical observations and put accurate mathematics into their prediction such as eclipses of the moon; thus contributing greatly to the later development of laws of astronomy（可再描述一下astronomy的概况，[假如读者不懂天文，他就看不出其originality of science]如研究内容和方法之类，让读者看出它们之间的比较具体的联系）.         

Secondly, nonmainstream area of inquiry was able to comfort people who got diseases that could not be cured by medicine at that time（医学也是属于science的吧？本段似乎和第一段是从属关系）. For example, ancient healers employed precious gems or crystals to treat diseases. People believed that different gems affect different organs by transforming energy, which can restore balances in human energy fields and thus promote health. Although it is（去掉is） seemed that crystal healing has no more effect than in spirit by modern-day（奇怪的说法） medicine(药一般不用medicine，因为不太正式，medicien一般表医学，不过用什么我还要去查查). It is assured that people’s belief that this treatment（which） could get rid of their diseases is likely to comfort them and cast a positive effect on their health.

Finally, as our knowledge about the nature goes deeper and deeper, the important role in meeting people‘s need (which，定语从句老是没有关系代词)used to be played by nonmainstream areas of inquiry, or pseudo-science, have（has） been replaced by science. As we know, science is a tight(紧密的？不如用organic) theoretical system and seeks the truth from facts. In contrast, pseudoscience usually covers the truth from being revealed by misconstruing natural phenomena and twisting the real situation of matters. That is why nowadays, very few people still hold believes that destiny is determined based on the day one was born(改为on the date on which one was born), or the sun, the moon and Venus are the homes of gods(什么意思？), or diseases （which）can be conquered by spirit rather than medical therapy. Were we uncomfortable, we could go to the hospital; were we ignorant of a certain field, we could consult to the specialist(加s). Therefore, the conclusion can be drawn that such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits has(have) come to an end(可是还没有吧目前来说？用将来时吧) as human society progressed.

Nowadays, most people tend to believe that it is only those ill educated（ill可以这样用吗？我想用poorly educated） person who would still believe things such as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits. But no one can deny the significance that these nonmainstream areas of inquiry used to have in history.

[ 本帖最后由 reffo 于 2006-3-8 21:13 编辑 ]