issue138 我们的九月小组 9.3

lanyelovemeUID: 2234077

TOPIC: ISSUE138 - "Only through mistakes can there be discovery or progress."
WORDS: 566          TIME: 0:45:00          DATE: 2006-9-3

Mistakes, the facts through observation that something deviate from the true or the right, exist in every pore in society. The speaker asserts that we can make discoveries or progresses only through mistakes. I basically agree with the claim on the basis that mistakes direct the straight way to success and truth through themselves. What is more, it is our responsibility to avoid mistakes to induce great losses.

To start with, the assertion that mistakes can be beneficial for discoveries and progress is on the correct philosophical side. As the reverse of what are right, mistakes always indicate what is true indirectly. When an individual make a mistake, then he or she may reflect the process and draw experience and thoughts from the wrong results facing in front of him or her, which is crucial to get close to the right. As I quote, "smart person is the one who never commits the same mistake." Mistakes themselves always stun wrongdoers from fantasy and illusion, and force them to be more practical and pragmatic. Besides, mistakes can also be beneficial for individuals to comprehend knowledge profoundly and deeply. When mistakes emerge out in learning or study, students may consult peers, teachers, and classmates to look into the insight, and then come out controversies, which is instrumental to catch the essence and kindle inspirations. Therefore, mistakes can always be a guidepost to what is right.

Furthermore, one can look back to the whole development process of science to demonstrate the positive roles of mistakes. Scientific inventions, discoveries and breakthroughs are always based on exposure of mistakes set up by predecessors. A striking instance is the development of physics in natural science. From the primitive theory of Aristotle about motions, to the experimental measures of observation about objects, to the universally gravitational theory by Newton, to the theory of relativity about problems of spatial-time, and to the quantum theory referred to microcosmic objectives, the history of physical development is almost the process of self-negating and reflection, which is urged by mistakes and pursuit of truth. Mistakes of today may be the basis of truth for tomorrow. Scientists draw truth through perpetual motion machine; politicians from wars, and economists from recessions and depressions.

Finally, while stressing the positive influence of mistakes for promotion and advancement, it is our responsibility to try our best to avoid mistakes to achieve improvement. After all, mistakes themselves indicate the losses of the right and the better. Without the trial to avoid the wrong, we can never get near to the right. The process of improvement and promotion is almost the procedure of avoiding formal mistakes and what may be inappropriate in the future. Besides, some mistakes may be cost-prohibited to experience. To illustrate this one need look no further than the disaster of space shuttle Challenger in 1983.  In the blast of space shuttle Challenger seven geniuses of astronauts lost their lives and the disaster is extremely demoralizing for the study and experiment of space shuttles. In short, anyone should be prudent and cautious enough to avoid mistakes, not only to mitigate losses, but also to pursue the right.

In conclusion, according to what have been recounted above, mistakes can be beneficial for improvement and development if wrongdoers take advantages of them. After all, mistakes indirectly indicate the truth. What is more, we should also take the responsibility to avoid mistakes to ward off (avert) preventable losses and destructions.