【辉太郎杀G大队】8/7 作业 Issue153 by Applemango

ApplemangoUID: 2661244

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: 576
TIME: 01:15:00
DATE: 2009-8-7 下午 10:19:18

What kind of attitude should students have when they study? The speaker asserts that no matter what students learn, they should always hold a certain skepticism towards them as the speaker asserts. And they also need to hold the same attitude when they are taught by teachers. As for me, I agree with his assertion, and I believe, as what was said by the great Chinese philosopher the Confusion, learning without reasoning is useless.

I agree with the assertion because skepticism is always a great learning method for students to better grasp knowledge. Merely accepting conclusions without questioning, a student cannot learn the real knowledge. Only through questioning rather than taking everything for granted, can a student learn how and why the case happened. And continuous questioning can bring inspiration to students in many other realms of human knowledge, help them to find out the hidden assumptions of seemingly flawless theories , and learn about how one theory is criticized and replaced by another. In the ancient Greek, Socrates used the way of questioning to guide and encourage students to find the answer by them. More and more educationists consider learning with skepticism is a very effective way of study.

Secondly, the end of education is not to produce computers with immense storage of information, but is aiming at cultivating critical thinkers and independent individuals. A skeptical attitudes quality plays an important role in every aspect of one's life. For instance, a democratic society is always supported by citizens who can use their reason independently, so that the whole society can avoid being misled by demagogues, who are very skillful at catering to those whose judgment is susceptible to wonderful rhetoric and popular opinions. Also, in the area of arts, since there isn't any rigorous standard for good and bad arts, most people are very likely to be blindly led by a few critics, therefore, thinking critically and independently is especially important for acquiring an artistic taste of one's own. Thus, students should keep skeptical since the first day they learn things and rightly apply the skepticism to their future life.

Moreover, skepticism is an important impetus which drives the society to move forward. Through skepticism, science, arts, philosophy evolve and grow. The moment a person casts doubt on the current theories, he/she starts the journey on the path to truth. Without skepticism, there will be no chance for Copernicus to discover the truth that the Earth rotates around the Sun. If everyone accept the fact that 1plus 1 equals 2, there will be no developments in the Goldbach's conjecture. And Picasso would never start his own modern style of painting if he accepts the traditional way since the Renaissance.

However, skepticism that goes to such extremes as to deny any kind of judgment and knowledge, as the ancient Greek skeptic Pyrrho did, is very harmful. Students should also be taught to find common ground and reach compromise in the society. And even students should be encouraged to question what they were taught by teachers for that what said by the teachers may not always be right, and questioning can help the students get deeper understanding the knowledge, students should keep a humble attitude, and discuss with teachers with respects.

To sum up, I agree with the speaker that students should always have a skeptical attitude in their pursuing of knowledge and truth. However, they should always avoid extreme skepticism and discuss with teachers in modesty.

lmcdragonflyUID: 2601914

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: 576
TIME: 01:15:00
DATE: 2009-8-7 下午 10:19:18

What kind of attitude should students have when they study? The speaker asserts that no matter what students learn, they should always hold a certain skepticism towards them as the speaker asserts. And they also need to hold the same attitude when they are taught by teachers. As for me, I agree with his assertion, and I believe, as what was said by the great Chinese philosopher the Confusion（Confucius）, learning without reasoning is useless.

I agree with the assertion because skepticism is always a great learning method for students to better grasp knowledge. Merely accepting conclusions without questioning, a student cannot learn the real knowledge. Only through questioning rather than taking everything for granted, can a student learn how and why the case happened. And continuous questioning can bring inspiration to students in many other realms of human knowledge, help them to find out the hidden assumptions of seemingly flawless theories , and learn about how one theory is criticized and replaced by another. In the ancient Greek, Socrates used the way of questioning to guide and encourage students to find the answer by them. More and more educationists consider learning with skepticism is a very effective way of study.

Secondly, the end of education is not to produce computers with immense storage of information, but is aiming at cultivating critical thinkers and independent individuals. A skeptical attitudes quality plays an important role in every aspect of one's life. For instance, a democratic society is always supported by citizens who can use their reason independently, so that the whole society can avoid being misled by demagogues, who are very skillful at catering to those whose judgment is susceptible to wonderful rhetoric and popular opinions. Also, in the area of arts, since there isn't any rigorous standard for good and bad arts, most people are very likely to be blindly led by a few critics, therefore, thinking critically and independently is especially important for acquiring an artistic taste of one's own. Thus, students should keep skeptical since the first day they learn things and rightly apply the skepticism to their future life.

Moreover, skepticism is an important impetus which drives the society to move forward. Through skepticism, science, arts, philosophy evolve and grow. The moment a person casts doubt on the current theories, he/she starts the journey on the path to truth. Without skepticism, there will be no chance for Copernicus to discover the truth that the Earth rotates around the Sun. If everyone accept the fact that 1plus 1 equals 2, there will be no developments in the Goldbach's conjecture.(这个例子不能这么说，哥德巴赫猜想是一个艰深的数论问题。具体不展开，但绝对和1+1=2没关系。) And Picasso would never start his own modern style of painting if he accepts the traditional way since the Renaissance.

However, skepticism that goes to such extremes as to deny any kind of judgment and knowledge, as the ancient Greek skeptic Pyrrho did, is very harmful. Students should also be taught to find common ground and reach compromise in the society. And even students should be encouraged to question what they were taught by teachers for that what said by the teachers may not always be right, and questioning can help the students get deeper understanding the knowledge, students should keep a humble attitude, and discuss with teachers with respects.

To sum up, I agree with the speaker that students should always have a skeptical attitude in their pursuing of knowledge and truth. However, they should always avoid extreme skepticism and discuss with teachers in modesty.
评语：整体感觉非常好，无论是例子还是分析。呵呵，可能最后几天，人心散了，队伍不好带了。。