发展进步的利弊

24.(2005.12)

Progress is likely to slow down once science and technology have met our basic human needs. New developments in science and technology will not continue to produce more societal benefits. In fact, the promise that science and technology will continue to benefit us is increasingly doubtful when so many individuals find their lives changing in ways they cannot control and in directions they do not desire.

Adapted from Daniel Sarewitz,“Social Change and Science Policy”

assignment:Do the benefits of scientific and technological developments come at the cost of undesirable changes to people's lives?

是

37.(2006.6)

We measure our progress as a civilization by what we see as advances in technology, which seem more significant than such concerns as education and the condition of the natural world. Still, I would prefer to be a part of a community that judged itself on the happiness of its members rather than on the development of new technology.

Adapted from Thomas Moore,The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life

assignment:Does a strong commitment to technological progress cause a society to neglect other values, such as education and the protection of the environment?

是的。 中国的现状。 教育产业化。 漠视污染。

87. (2008.5)

Technological advances have freed society from tiresome labor, such as washing clothes by hand, hauling heavy loads, and walking long distances, and have given people increased access to information and entertainment. Yet, when given a choice, many people still resist using modern conveniences. There must be something to be gained from not using technology.

Assignment: Are there benefits to be gained from avoiding the use of modern technology, even when using it would make life easier?

可以同意。 放弃开车上下班，减少污染。 骑自行车，锻炼身体。 不看电视，还有其他的娱乐活动。

(OFFICIAL GUIDE PRACTICE TEST 4) Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace technological innovation and the split second processing capabilities computers that can work virtually nonstop have made all us feel rushed. We have adopted the relentless pace the very machine that were supposed to simplify our lives with the result that, whether at work or play, people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better.

Adapted from Karen Finucan, “Life in the Fast Lane”

Assignment: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily make them better?  

10. Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and assignment below: (OFFICIAL GUIDE PRACTICE TEST 8) There is, course, no legitimate branch science that enables us to predict the future accurately. Yet the degree change in the world is so overwhelming and so promising that the future, I believe, is far brighter than anyone has contemplated since the end the Second World War.

Adapted form Allan E. Goodman, A brief History the Future: The United States in a Changing World Order

Assignment: Is the world changing for the better?

独立思考

1.(2005.3)

We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?

Adapted from James A.Reed,“Majority Rule”

assignment:Is the opinion of the majority--in government or in any other circumstances--a poor guide?

可以单面写，也可以两面写(让步, 有时候确实是poor guide, 但是在有些时候，却不是的，比如革命时期广大人民的经济和政治诉求Economic and political appeal)。

伊拉克战争的起源--大规模杀伤性武器 Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. 但是其实只不过是美国政府的一个用以发动战争go to war against的借口pretext而已。 很多政策的实施也都是打着为国为民的借口excuse, 但是实际上真正的目的是不可告人的--比如经济适用房economically affordable housing.一开始大家都认为这是一个好政策，很多所谓的专家学者也鼓吹，但是最终还是没有达到本来想达到的目的。比如三峡大坝Three Gorges Dam，一开始是想要发电，解决我国的电荒severe power shortage问题，但是没料到的是造成了很严重的环境后果--干旱，炎热scorching hot; burning hot; torridity; baking-hot，湖波缺水。黄万里。    

计划生育政策 family planning policy 很多专家学者目前还在鼓吹计划生育好，但是显然枉顾我国人口比例失衡的事实。

左右皆曰贤，未可也；诸大夫皆曰贤，未可也；国人皆曰贤，然后察之，见贤焉，然后用之。左右皆曰不可，勿听；诸大夫皆曰不可，勿听；国人皆曰不可，然后察之，见不可焉，然后去之。左右皆曰可杀，勿听；诸大夫皆曰可杀，勿听；国人皆曰可杀，然后察之，见可杀焉，然后杀之，故曰国人杀之也。

废奴运动abolitionist movement  解放黑人奴隶宣言The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. The first one, issued September 22, 1862, declared the freedom of all slaves in any state of the Confederate States of America that did not return to Union control by January 1, 1863. The second order, issued January 1, 1863, named ten specific states where it would apply. Lincoln issued the Executive Order by his authority as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy" under Article II, section 2 of the United States Constitution.

Abolitionism was a movement in western Europe and the Americas to end the slave trade and emancipate slaves.

In eleven States constituting the American South, slavery was a social and powerful economic institution, integral to the agricultural economy. By the 1860 United States Census, the slave population in the United States had grown to four million.[1]. American abolitionism labored under the handicap that it was accused of threatening the harmony of North and South in the Union. The abolitionist movement in the North was led by social reformers such as William Lloyd Garrison, founder of the American Anti-Slavery Society; writers such as John Greenleaf Whittier and Harriet Beecher Stowe; former slaves such as Frederick Douglass; and free blacks such as brothers Charles Henry Langston and John Mercer Langston, who helped found the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society.[2]

The 1860 presidential victory of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the spread of slavery to the Western United States, marked a turning point in the movement. Convinced that their way of life was threatened, the Southern states seceded from the Union, which led to the American Civil War. In 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves held in the Confederate States; the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1865) prohibited slavery throughout the country. Slavery was abolished in most of Latin America during the Independence Wars (1810–1822), but slavery remained a practice in the region up to 1888 in Brazil, as well as having long life in the remaining Spanish colonies of Cuba and Puerto Rico. In some parts of Africa and in much of the Islamic world, it persisted as a legal institution well into the 20th century.

Abolitionism was preceded by the New Laws of the Indies in 1542, in which Emperor Charles V declared free all Native American slaves, abolishing slavery of these races, and declaring them citizens of the Empire with full rights. The move was inspired by writings of the Spanish monk Bartolome de las Casas and the School of Salamanca. Spanish settlers replaced the Native American slaves with enslaved laborers brought from Africa, so did not abolish slavery altogether.

伽利略 Galileo

an Italian astronomer (=a scientist who studies the stars) , mathematician, and physicist whose many discoveries had a great influence on modern science. He discovered that the planets move around the Sun, and that if you drop objects of different weights in a vacuum, they fall at the same speed.

布鲁诺Italian philosopher who used Copernican principles in formulating his cosmic theory of an infinite universe. Condemned by the Inquisition for heresy, immoral conduct, and blasphemy, he was burned at the stake.

哥白尼 Copernicus

a Polish astronomer (=person who studies the stars) , who first suggested the Copernican system, in which the earth and other planets are described as moving around the sun, which does not move

62.(2007.5)

We do not take the time to determine right from wrong.Reflecting on the difference between right and wrong is hard work.It is so much easier to follow the crowd,going along with what is popular rather than risking the disapproval of others by voicing an objection of any kind.

Adapted from Stephen J.Carter,Integrity

assignment:Is it always best to determine one's own views of right and wrong, or can we benefit from following the crowd?

39.(2006.6)

I suspect that like many people who watch their diet, exercise regularly, and check the weather report before leaving the house, I am a little too concerned with controlling what can't be fully controlled. I know I am doing the sensible thing. But I sometimes think that the more reckless among us may have something to teach the rest of us about freedom. Perhaps there is something good about taking chances against our better judgments.

Adapted from Melvin Konner,“Why the Reckless Survive”

assignment:Is it sometimes better to take risks than to follow a more reasonable course of action?

哥伦布发现新大陆；清教徒Puritan移民美洲大陆；乔治•华盛顿等人领导的北美独立战争(他们本身都是富商或者农场主，即使不反抗，他们也有优裕的生活)。 孙中山Sun Yat-sen。

作为一个中国学生，参加高考是一个相对的reasonable course of action, 但是我选择了出国读书；毫无疑问这样将冒着很大的风险，包括语言，风俗，文化等等方面。

Mayflower Compact 五月花公约

40.(2006.6)

It is rare to find an objective and independent viewpoint on style, literature, politics, or any other matter. Many people's opinions are formed through their associations with others. It is our nature to conform; conformity is a force that few can successfully resist. We give in to the human instinct to go along with the crowd and to have its approval.

Adapted from Mark Twain,“Corn-pone Opinions”

assignment: Do we tend to accept the opinions of others instead of developing our own independent ideas?

在我们的知识水平和认知能力cognitive competence都还比较有限的时候，我们可能会受到别人意见的左右。 但是当我们的知识和眼界都扩大了以后，我们就能够形成自己独立的判断。

中国的一些政策，比如计划生育政策；一开始跟着政府的步调走，认为很好。但是当我们有了自己的判断以后，变。 再比如新闻管制news blackout和审查censorship. 官方认为新闻审查有利于过滤对于我们国家敌对的信息，有利于和谐社会harmonious society的发展，但是实际上也压制了民间的理性的声音，不利于自由和民主的发展。

很多人认为穆斯林Muslim各个都是恐怖分子，但是跟他们的接触表明他们跟我们一样是普通人。

56.(2007.1)

If we are dissatisfied with our circumstances, we think about changing them. But the most important and effective changes--in our attitude--hardly occur to us. In other words, we should worry not about how to alter the world around us for the better but about how to change ourselves in order to fit into that world.

Adapted from Michael Hymers, “Wittgenstein,Pessimism and Politics”

assignment: Is it better to change one's attitude than to change one's circumstances?

有些环境是可改变的，有些环境在目前条件下是不可改变的，如果我们过于执着于改变环境这个我们不能改变的东西，那么我们可能会错失很多机会。比如中国的政治现状，很显然是一个不太民主的社会，但是我们仍然是可以做一些事情使得情况向好的方面发展的。如果我们一直采取强硬的对立立场，那么显然，我们会失败，因为国家机器会毫不犹豫的碾过你。

但是坚持改变环境也意味着一个坚持的坚定的理想主义态度，会给我们带来持久的动力。

比如中国的就业现状。大学生毕业，很多找不到工作，失业。问题的根源当然很清楚，如果我们坐在那里说这种情况应该改变，怨天尤人，对我们本身的状况不会带来任何改变。相反的主动的提升自己的能力和水平，反而能够及早地找到工作。

但是一味的改变自己去适应环境也会使自己失去自我，没有独立的观点，失去朋友；相反的坚持自己的观点反而能够使得自己以及自己的社会关系保持一定的稳定性。

为了生活和钱财而不断频繁地改换职业，不停地适应新工作，导致多而不专，不利于自己才能的发挥。    

57.(2007.3)

From the time people are very young, they are urged to get along with others,to try to"fit in." Indeed, people are often rewarded for being agreeable and obedient. But this approach is misguided because it promotes uniformity instead of encouraging people to be unique and different. Differences among people give each of us greater perspective and allow us to make better judgments.

assignment: Is it more valuable for people to fit in than to be unique and different?

Fit in更容易获得大家的认可，自己也能够有不同的体验和经历，学习新东西。

保持自我是很好，但是会降低一个人的亲和力，尤其是在集体活动的时候不利于集体利益。比如打篮球，大家都想进攻，没人防守，球队就输球。