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LauraSnyder_2012G-_哲学早餐俱乐部_
I'd like you to come back with me for a moment to the 19th century, specifically to June 24, 1833. 我希望你可以跟著我暫時回到 十九世紀, 準確來說,是1833年的6月24日。
specifically:adv.特别地;明确地;
The British Association for the Advancement of Science is holding its third meeting at the University of Cambridge . 英國科學協會（The British Association for the Advancement of Science） 正在劍橋大學舉行第三次會議。
Association:n.协会;关联;联想;交往; Advancement:n.前进,进步;提升; Cambridge:n.剑桥(英国城市);坎布里奇(美国马萨诸塞州城市);
It's the first night of the meeting, and a confrontation is about to take place that will change science forever. 這是會議的第一個晚上, 而即將發生的一場爭執 將永遠改變科學的面貌。
confrontation:n.对抗;面对;对质; is about to:眼看就要;即将;正要;行将; take place:发生;举行;
An elderly , white-haired man stands up. 一位頭髮花白的長者站了起來。
elderly:adj.上了年纪的;过了中年的;稍老的; white-haired:adj.白发的;浅色头发的;受宠爱的;
The members of the Association are shocked to realize that it's the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who hadn't even left his house in years until that day. 科學協會的成員驚訝地發現 他是詩人山姆.泰勒.柯勒律治(Samuel Taylor Coleridge), 一位多年足不出戶的詩人－直到那天。
They're even more shocked by what he says. 更讓他們驚訝的是他所說的話。
'"You must stop calling yourselves natural philosophers ." 「你不能再稱自己為自然哲學家。」
philosophers:n.哲学家(philosopher的复数);
Coleridge felt that true philosophers like himself pondered the cosmos from their armchairs . 柯勒律治覺得哲學家們,像他自己本身, 都是坐在扶手椅上思索宇宙的。
pondered:vt.仔细考虑;衡量;vi.考虑;沉思; cosmos:n.宇宙;和谐;秩序;大波斯菊; armchairs:n.[家具]扶手椅(armchair的复数);
They were not mucking around in the fossil pits or conducting messy experiments with electrical piles like the members of the British Association. 他們並沒有把煤坑搞得一團糟 或是用電子零件作混亂的實驗, 不像英國科學協會的人一樣。
mucking:adj.清理坍方;清理岩石;清理; fossil:n.化石;老人;老古董;adj.从地下发掘出来的;化石的;属于旧时代的;陈腐的; pits:n.维修区(pit的复数); v.除去…的核; conducting:v.组织;安排;实施;指挥;引导;导游(conduct的现在分词) messy:adj.肮脏的;凌乱的;不整洁的; electrical:adj.有关电的;电气科学的; piles:n.痔疮;痔;
The crowd grew angry and began to complain loudly. 會議成員開始生氣,還大聲抗議。
complain:v.投诉;发牢骚;诉说;
A young Cambridge scholar named William Whewell stood up and quieted the audience. 一位年輕的劍橋學者,威廉.修艾爾(William Whewell)站了起來 他讓所有人安靜下來。
scholar:n.学者;奖学金获得者;聪颖勤奋的学生;
He politely agreed that an appropriate name for the members of the association did not exist. 他很禮貌地指出 一個適合協會成員使用的稱號並不存在。
appropriate:adj.适当的;恰当的;v.占用,拨出;
'"If 'philosophers' is taken to be too wide and lofty a term," 「如果“哲學家”這個稱號過於廣義和高尚,」
lofty:adj.高的;崇高的;高级的;高傲的;
he said, "then, by analogy with 'artist,' we may form 'scientist.'" 他說。「那麼,參考“藝術家”(artist)這個稱呼, 我們可以自稱為“科學家”(scientist)。」
analogy:n.类比;类推;类似;
This was the first time the word scientist was uttered in public, only 179 years ago. 這是「科學家」三個字第一次 在公開場合出現, 而這只是179年前的事。
uttered:v.出声;说;讲(utter的过去分词和过去式)
I first found out about this confrontation when I was in graduate school , and it kind of blew me away. 我是在研究所的時候第一次聽到這個故事, 這讓我有點震驚。
graduate school:研究所,研究院;
I mean, how could the word scientist not have existed until 1833? 我是說,「科學家」這個詞 怎麼可能在1833年以前都不存在？
What were scientists called before? 那他們以前被稱為甚麼呢？
What had changed to make a new name necessary precisely at that moment? 是甚麼改變了,導致 在當時必須產生一個新詞？
Prior to this meeting, those who studied the natural world were talented amateurs . 在會議之前,那些研究自然世界的人 都是有才能的業餘愛好者。
Prior:adj.先前的; n.(小隐修院)院长; v.居先; amateurs:n.业余爱好者;业余运动员;生手;外行;(amateur的复数)
Think of the country clergyman or squire collecting his beetles or fossils , like Charles Darwin, for example, or, the hired help of a nobleman , like Joseph Priestley, who was the literary companion to the Marquis of Lansdowne when he discovered oxygen. 想想那些鄉村裡的牧師或地主 收集甲蟲或化石, 像查爾斯.達爾文 (Charles Darwin), 或是貴族雇用的幫手,像約瑟夫.普利斯特里 (Joseph Priestley), 他曾是 蘭斯多恩侯爵 (Marquis of Lansdowne) 的伙伴, 在他發現氧氣的時候。
clergyman:n.牧师;教士; squire:n.乡绅;侍从;大地主;地方法官;vt.随侍;护卫; beetles:n.甲虫;v.快速移动;(beetle的第三人称单数和复数) fossils:n.[古生]化石(fossil复数形式); nobleman:n.贵族; Joseph:n.连帽大氅; literary:adj.文学的;书面的;精通文学的; companion:n.同伴;伴侣;陪伴;手册;v.(与…)同行;(跟…)搭伴儿去; Marquis:n.(法)侯爵;世袭贵族(等于marquess); Lansdowne:n.兰丝唐呢绒;
After this, they were scientists, professionals with a particular scientific method, goals, societies and funding . 在這之後,他們全成了科學家, 成了專精於某種科學研究方法的專業人士, 有著科學研究目標、學會和資助。
professionals:n.[管理]专业人员(professional的复数); scientific:adj.科学的,系统的; funding:n.基金;资金;提供资金;v.为…提供资金;拨款给;(fund的现在分词)
Much of this revolution can be traced to four men who met at Cambridge University in 1812: 這個進化可以歸功於四個人 他們在1812年於劍橋大學相遇:
revolution:n.革命;旋转;运行;循环; traced:v.发现;追踪;追究;描绘;记述;(trace的过去分词和过去式)
Charles Babbage, John Herschel, Richard Jones and William Whewell. 查爾斯.巴貝奇、約翰.赫歇爾、理查.鐘斯和威廉.休厄爾。
These were brilliant, driven men who accomplished amazing things. 他們都是非常聰明的、有雄心的人 也有不少出色的成就。
accomplished:adj.完成的;有技巧的;有学问的;v.完成;(accomplish的过去分词和过去式)
Charles Babbage, I think known to most TEDsters, invented the first mechanical calculator and the first prototype of a modern computer. 查爾斯.巴貝奇(Charles Babbage),我想你們多數人都知道他, 他發明了世上第一個力學計算機 和第一個現化電腦的原型。
mechanical:adj.机械的;力学的;呆板的;无意识的;手工操作的; calculator:n.计算器; prototype:n.原型;雏形;最初形态;
John Herschel mapped the stars of the southern hemisphere , and, in his spare time, co-invented photography . 約翰.赫歇爾 (John Herschel)畫下了南半球的星圖, 並在他空閒的時間和別人一起發明了相機。
hemisphere:n.半球; spare:v.节约,吝惜;饶恕;分出,分让;adj.多余的;瘦的;少量的;n.剩余;备用零件; photography:n.摄影;摄影术;
I'm sure we could all be that productive without Facebook or Twitter to take up our time. 我相信我們都可以有如此的有生產力 只要Facebook和Twitter不再佔用我們的時間。
productive:adj.能生产的;生产的,生产性的;多产的;富有成效的;
Richard Jones became an important economist who later influenced Karl Marx. 理查.鐘斯 (Richard Jones)成為了一名重要的經濟學家 他後來影響了卡爾.馬克斯 (Karl Marx)。
influenced:v.影响;对…起作用;支配;左右;(influence的过去分词和过去式)
And Whewell not only coined the term scientist, as well as the words anode , cathode and ion, but spearheaded international big science with his global research on the tides . 而休厄爾(William Whewell)不但創造了科學家一詞, 以及陽極、陰極和離子這些詞, 他也成為世界科學的先鋒 以一份關於潮汐的國際研究。
as well as:也;和…一样;不但…而且; anode:n.[电子]阳极,[电]正极; cathode:n.阴极(电解);n.正极(原电池); spearheaded:v.做…的先锋;带头做;领先突击;(spearhead的过去分词和过去式) global:adj.全球的;总体的;球形的; tides:n.[海洋]潮汐(tide的复数);v.随潮水漂浮(tide的第三人称单数);
In the Cambridge winter of 1812 and 1813, the four met for what they called philosophical breakfasts. 1812及13年的劍橋冬日, 這四個年輕人在他們的「哲學早餐會」聚會
philosophical:adj.哲学的(等于philosophic);冷静的;
They talked about science and the need for a new scientific revolution. 他們談論科學 和科學革新的必要。
They felt science had stagnated since the days of the scientific revolution that had happened in the 17th century. 他們覺得科學正停滯不前, 自十七世紀的科學革命以後 便一直如此。
stagnated:v.停滞(stagnate的过去式);
It was time for a new revolution, which they pledged to bring about, and what's so amazing about these guys is, not only did they have these grandiose undergraduate dreams, but they actually carried them out, even beyond their wildest dreams. 事實後有所改變了, 他們嘗試提出這一點, 而他們出色的地方在於 他們不只有這些 大學生的偉大夢想, 他們更把夢想帶到現實實行, 即使這些夢想聽起來像天馬行空。
pledged:v.保证给予(或做);正式承诺;抵押(pledge的过去分词和过去式) grandiose:adj.宏伟的;堂皇的;浮夸的;宏大的; undergraduate:n.本科生;
And I'm going to tell you today about four major changes to science these men made. 而我今天要告訴你們 這些年輕人帶來的四個重大改變。
About 200 years before, 在200年前,
Francis Bacon and then, later, Isaac Newton , had proposed an inductive scientific method. 法蘭西斯.培根 (Francis Bacon) 和之後的艾薩克.牛頓 (Issac Newton), 曾提出歸納科學方法。
Bacon:n.咸肉;腌肉;熏猪肉; Newton:n.牛顿(英国科学家);牛顿(力的单位); proposed:adj.建议的;推荐的;v.提议;建议;计划;求婚;(propose的过去分词和过去式) inductive:adj.[数]归纳的;[电]感应的;诱导的;
Now that's a method that starts from observations and experiments and moves to generalizations about nature called natural laws, which are always subject to revision or rejection should new evidence arise . 此科學方法基於 觀察和實驗 而後將結果歸納成大自然的規則, 這些規則將持續被修正,甚至被否決, 如果有新的證據出現的話。
observations:n.观察,观察值;观察结果;(observation的复数形式); generalizations:n.概括;一般化(generalization的复数); revision:n.[印刷]修正;复习;修订本; rejection:n.抛弃;拒绝;被抛弃的东西;盖帽; evidence:n.证据,证明;迹象;明显;v.证明; arise:v.出现;发生;产生;起身;
However, in 1809, David Ricardo muddied the waters by arguing that the science of economics should use a different, deductive method. 可是,在1809年,當大衛.李嘉圖 (David Ricardo) 認為經濟這門科學 該以和歸納法不同的演譯法來研究。
muddied:adj.泥泞的;模糊的;vt.使污浊;把…弄糊涂;vi.变得泥泞; deductive:adj.演绎的;推论的;推断的;
The problem was that an influential group at Oxford began arguing that because it worked so well in economics, this deductive method ought to be applied to the natural sciences too. 問題在於牛津一群有影響力的人 也開始認為演譯法既然在經濟學上有效, 這方法也應該適用於 自然科學才對。
influential:adj.有影响的;有势力的;n.有影响力的人物; applied:adj.应用的;实用的;v.应用;使用;申请,请求;(apply的过去分词和过去式)
The members of the philosophical breakfast club disagreed . 哲學早餐會的幾位成員反對。
disagreed:v.不同意;有分歧;不符;不一致;(disagree的过去分词和过去式)
They wrote books and articles promoting inductive method in all the sciences that were widely read by natural philosophers, university students and members of the public. 他們為了推廣歸納法著書立說, 在所有科學領域 包含自然哲學家 大學生和公眾皆能閱讀的書刊上出版,
promoting:v.促进;推动;促销;提升;晋升;(promote的现在分词)
Reading one of Herschel's books was such a watershed moment for Charles Darwin that he would later say, " Scarcely anything in my life made so deep an impression on me. 閱讀赫歇爾的其中一本著作 對達爾文來說是一個分水嶺 後來他說:「在我的人生中 很少有這麼讓我印象深刻的東西。
watershed:n.(美)流域;分水岭;集水区;转折点;adj.标志转折点的; Scarcely:adv.几乎不,简直不;简直没有; impression:n.印象;影响;效果;感想;
It made me wish to add my might to the accumulated store of natural knowledge." 它讓我想要參與貢獻 去成就一個更大的自然知識資料庫。」
accumulated:v.积累;积聚;(数量)逐渐增加;(accumulate的过去式和过去分词)
It also shaped Darwin's scientific method, as well as that used by his peers . 赫歇爾的書也助達爾文訂立了他的科學研究方法, 同時也影響了他的同儕。
peers:n.平辈,同事(peer的复数);v.凝视;比得上(peer的三单形式);
[Science for the public good] [成就公益的科學]
Previously , it was believed that scientific knowledge ought to be used for the good of the king or queen, or for one's own personal gain. 在這以前,科學知識常被認為是 用於滿足國王或皇后 甚至個人的需求或欲望。
Previously:adv.先前;以前; personal:adj.个人的;身体的;亲自的;n.人事消息栏;人称代名词;
For example, ship captains needed to know information about the tides in order to safely dock at ports. 例如,船長們需要知道 潮汐漲退的資料以安全停泊到港口。
dock:n.码头;船坞;被告席;尾巴的骨肉部分;vt.使靠码头;剪短;vi.入船坞;
Harbormasters would gather this knowledge and sell it to the ship captains. 港口主人們會搜集這些資訊 賣給船長們。
The philosophical breakfast club changed that, working together. 哲學早餐會改變了這樣的情況, 在眾人合力之下,
Whewell's worldwide study of the tides resulted in public tide tables and tidal maps that freely provided the harbormasters' knowledge to all ship captains. 休厄爾的世界潮汐研究 讓公開的潮汐表和地圖得以面世 這些曾是港口主人的專門知識 船長們終於可以免費取得。
worldwide:adj.全世界的;adv.在世界各地; tidal:adj.潮汐的;潮的,有关潮水的;定时涨落的; provided:conj.假如; v.提供; (provide的过去分词和过去式)
Herschel helped by making tidal observations off the coast of South Africa, and, as he complained to Whewell, he was knocked off the docks during a violent high tide for his trouble. 赫歇爾的貢獻包括觀察潮汐變化, 在南非海岸 還有,他也曾向休厄爾訴苦 說他觀察途中曾因強烈的潮汐而在甲板上狠狠跌倒。
complained:v.抱怨;埋怨;发牢骚;(complain的过去分词和过去式) docks:n.[水运]码头; v.船入港; violent:adj.暴力的;猛烈的; high tide:n.满潮;
The four men really helped each other in every way. 他們四個真的在各方面互相幫忙。
They also relentlessly lobbied the British government for the money to build Babbage's engines because they believed these engines would have a huge practical impact on society. 他們也不間斷地遊說英國政府 出資給巴貝奇建造引擎 因為他們相信這些引擎 將會對社會有重大影響。
relentlessly:adv.残酷地,无情地; lobbied:v.游说(从政者或政府);(lobby的过去分词和过去式) practical:adj.实际的;真实的;客观存在的;n.实习课;实践课; impact:n.影响;效果;碰撞;冲击力;v.挤入,压紧;撞击;对…产生影响;
In the days before pocket calculators , the numbers that most professionals needed -- bankers, insurance agents , ship captains, engineers ?? 在沒有計算機的年代, 專業人士最需要的數字﹣﹣ 銀行家、保險從業員、船長、工程師們﹣﹣
calculators:n.[计]计算器(calculator的复数); insurance:n.保险;保险业;保险费;保费;adj.胜券在握的; agents:n.代理人,经纪人;原动力;(agent的复数)
were to be found in lookup books like this, filled with tables of figures. 都在像這樣的工具書裡, 在這些密密麻麻的圖表間。
lookup:n.查找;检查;
These tables were calculated using a fixed procedure over and over by part-time workers known as -- and this is amazing -- computers, but these calculations were really difficult. 這些圖表 是用固定的程序重複地計算出來的 這些打工的計算人員被稱為﹣﹣電腦,不可思議吧 但這些都是很困難的算式。
procedure:n.步骤;手术;(商业、法律或政治上的)程序; over and over:反复;再三;
I mean, this nautical almanac published the lunar differences for every month of the year. 我是說,這些航海天文曆 包含了每個月的月球活動差異。
nautical:adj.航海的,海上的;船员的; almanac:n.年鉴;历书;年历; lunar:adj.月亮的,月球的;阴历的;银的;微亮的;
Each month required 1,365 calculations, so these tables were filled with mistakes. 每個月需要1365次計算, 所以這些圖表都有不少錯漏。
Babbage's difference engine was the first mechanical calculator devised to accurately compute any of these tables. 巴貝奇想製造的計算機器是最早的機械計算器 是為了準確計算出圖表所需資料而設計的。
devised:v.设计(devise的过去式和过去分词);计划;发明; accurately:adv.精确地,准确地; compute:vt.计算;估算;用计算机计算;vi.计算;估算;推断;n.计算;估计;推断;
Two models of his engine were built in the last 20 years by a team from the Science Museum of London using his own plans. 在過去的20年間,他這個機器的兩個版本 由倫敦科學博物館一組人員 根據他的想法製造出來。
This is the one now at the Computer History Museum in California, and it calculates accurately. It actually works. 這就是現在加洲電腦歷史博物館內的展品 它計算結果很準確。它是有效的。
Later, Babbage's analytical engine was the first mechanical computer in the modern sense. 之後,巴貝奇的分析機器 是世上首部現代機械計算機。
analytical:adj.分析的;解析的;善于分析的;
It had a separate memory and central processor . 它有獨立的記憶體和中央處理器。
processor:n.[计]处理器;处理程序;加工者;
It was capable of iteration , conditional branching and parallel processing , and it was programmable using punched cards, an idea Babbage took from Jacquard's loom . 它可以進行複述、條件分支 (conditional branching) 和平行處理 (parallel processing)。 它也可以使用孔卡紙 (punched cards) 運算程式, 這是巴貝奇參考提花織機所設計的。
capable:adj.能干的,能胜任的;有才华的; iteration:n.[数]迭代;反复;重复; conditional:adj.有条件的;假定的;n.条件句;条件语; parallel processing:n.并行处理; programmable:adj.[计]可编程的;可设计的; punched:v.拳打;以拳痛击;给…打孔;按(键);(punch的过去分词和过去式) loom:n.织布机;v.(尤指)令人惊恐地隐现;显得突出;逼近
Tragically , Babbage's engines never were built in his day because most people thought that non-human computers would have no usefulness for the public. 很可惜他設計的這部機器在他在世時並沒有被實正製作出來 因為很多人以為 純機器的「電腦」對於公眾來說 是沒有用處的。
Tragically:adv.悲剧地;悲惨地; non-human:adj.非人类的;非人工的; usefulness:n.有用;有效性;有益;
[New scientific institutions] [新科學機構]
Founded in Bacon's time, the Royal Society of London was the foremost scientific society in England and even in the rest of the world. 倫敦皇家學會在培根的年代創立, 它曾是英國最先進的科學學會 甚至在全世界來說也是。
Royal:adj.国王的;女王的;皇家的;n.王室成员; foremost:adj.最重要的;最先的;adv.首先;居于首位地;
By the 19th century, it had become a kind of gentleman's club populated mainly by antiquarians, literary men and the nobility . 直至19世紀,它已變成 一種紳士的俱樂部 成員主要為考古學家、文人和貴族。
populated:v.生活于; mainly:adv.大多;大部分;主要地;首要地; nobility:n.贵族;高贵;高尚;
The members of the philosophical breakfast club helped form a number of new scientific societies, including the British Association. 哲學早餐會的成員們 協助了數個新科學學會成立, 其中包括了英國協會 (the British Association)。
These new societies required that members be active researchers publishing their results. 這些新學會要求 他們的會員必須為活躍的研究者,並出版他們的研究成果。
They reinstated the tradition of the Q&A after scientific papers were read, which had been discontinued by the Royal Society as being ungentlemanly . 他們恢復了科學研究論文公開後 設問答環節的傳統, 這傳統曾被皇家學會下令停止 原因是這不應是紳士所為。
reinstated:v.使恢复原职;把…放回原处;使恢复原状;(reinstate的过去分词和过去式) discontinued:adj.停止使用的;不连续的;v.停止;中断(discontinue的过去分词); ungentlemanly:adj.非绅士的;无绅士风度的;无教养的;
And for the first time, they gave women a foot in the door of science. 而這也是第一次他們接納女性進入科學的世界。
foot in the door:成功的第一步,成功地开始;
Members were encouraged to bring their wives, daughters and sisters to the meetings of the British Association, and while the women were expected to attend 他們歡迎會員帶同妻子、 女兒或姊妹到英國協會的會議, 他們只預期女性參加
only the public lectures and the social events like this one, they began to infiltrate the scientific sessions as well. 公開演說和類似答辯會之類的社交活動 但漸漸地女性也開始參加科學會議。
infiltrate:vt.使潜入;使渗入,使浸润;vi.渗入;n.渗透物; sessions:n.会议;会期(session的复数);
The British Association would later be the first of the major national science organizations in the world to admit women as full members. 英國協會隨後成為 世上最重要的幾個科學組織之首 接納女性成為會員的協會。
organizations:n.组织,构造,有机体(organization的复数);组织机构;
[External funding for science] [支持科學研究的外來資金]
Up to the 19th century, natural philosophers were expected to pay for their own equipment and supplies. 直至19世紀, 自然哲學家都是自掏腰包 購買他們所需的設備和儀器。
Occasionally , there were prizes, such as that given to John Harrison in the 18th century, for solving the so-called longitude problem, but prizes were only given after the fact, when they were given at all. 他們偶爾會得到獎金, 就像18世紀時約翰.哈里森 (John Harrison) 解答所謂經度問題所得的獎金, 但這些獎賞都是研究有成果後才有可能得到的 有時即使完成了研究也拿不到。
Occasionally:adv.偶尔;有时候;偶然; so-called:adj.所谓的;号称的; longitude:n.[地理]经度;经线;
On the advice of the philosophical breakfast club, the British Association began to use the extra money generated by its meetings to give grants for research in astronomy , the tides, fossil fish, shipbuilding , and many other areas. 哲學早餐會的成員建議, 英國協會可以把多餘的資金 會議所得的金錢 授予科學家作天文、潮汐、化石魚、 造船等等方面的研究。
extra:adj.额外的:n.额外的事物:adv.额外:另外: generated:v.产生;引起;(generate的过去式和过去分词) grants:n.补助金; v.[专利]授予; astronomy:n.天文学; shipbuilding:n.造船;造船业;造船术;
These grants not only allowed less wealthy men to conduct research, but they also encouraged thinking outside the box, rather than just trying to solve one pre-set question. 這些補助不但 幫助不甚富有的科學家進行研究, 也鼓勵了他們更有創意、提出新的問題, 而非只是解答已被提出的問題。
pre-set:n.预置;预调;
Eventually , the Royal Society and the scientific societies of other countries followed suit, and this has become -- fortunately it's become -- a major part of the scientific landscape today. 最後,皇家學會 和其他國家的科學學會都採用了這種方法, 而這種補助形式也很幸運地 成為了今天科學研究的主流。
Eventually:adv.最后,终于; fortunately:adv.幸运地; landscape:n.景观;乡村风景画;(文件的)横向打印格式;v.对…做景观美化;美化…的环境;
So the philosophical breakfast club helped invent the modern scientist. 所以哲學早餐會 其實對現代科學家的出現大有貢獻。
That's the heroic part of their story. 這是他們偉大的故事。
heroic:adj.英雄的;英勇的;记叙英雄及其事迹的;夸张的;n.史诗;英勇行为;
There's a flip side as well. 故事也有另外一面。
flip side:反面;
They did not foresee at least one consequence of their revolution. 他們並沒有想像到他們 所作的事將會帶來甚麼改變。
foresee:vt.预见;预知; consequence:n.结果;重要性;推论;
They would have been deeply dismayed by today's disjunction between science and the rest of culture. 他們會對今天科學和其他文化層面漸行漸遠的現象 感到驚訝和沮喪。
dismayed:adj.吃惊,惊愕; v.使…灰心; disjunction:n.分离;析取;分裂;折断;
It's shocking to realize that only 28 percent of American adults have even a very basic level of science literacy , and this was tested by asking simple questions like, "Did humans and dinosaurs inhabit the Earth at the same time ?" 這是非常令人震驚的 只有百分之二十八的美國成年人 對科學有基本的認識, 用一個簡單的問題就可以測試出來, 「人類和恐龍曾同時住在這個地球上嗎？」
literacy:n.读写能力;精通文学; inhabit:v.居住在;栖居于; at the same time:同时;另一方面;与此同时;
and "What proportion of the Earth is covered in water?" 或是「地球表面有多少百分比是被水覆蓋的？」
proportion:n.比例;部分;份额;均衡;v.摊派;使相称;
Once scientists became members of a professional group, they were slowly walled off from the rest of us. 當科學成為一種專業後, 這些學問也距離普通人愈來愈遠了。
This is the unintended consequence of the revolution that started with our four friends. 這不是科學改革想見到的後果 是我們這四位朋友所為的後果。 (註:指哲學早餐會四人)
unintended:adj.无意识的;非计划中的;
Charles Darwin said, "I sometimes think that general and popular treatises are almost as important for the progress of science as original work." 達爾文說過, 「我有時會覺得,一般的或時下流行的論文 對科學的發展和 原創的研究差不多重要。」
treatises:n.论文,论述(treatise的复数形式);政府论(书名); original:n.原件;原作;原物;原型;adj.原始的;最初的;独创的;新颖的;
In fact, "Origin of Species " was written for a general and popular audience, and was widely read when it first appeared. 其實,《物種起源》一開始 是為了普羅大眾而寫的, 在它出版後也被廣泛閱讀。
Species:n.[生物]物种;种类;
Darwin knew what we seem to have forgotten, that science is not only for scientists. 達爾文知道我們或許已經遺忘的事實: 即科學不是科學家的專利。
Thank you. 謝謝。
(Applause) (掌聲)