TED演讲:哲学早餐俱乐部(2)

 　　I first found out about this confrontation¹ when I was in graduate school, and it kind of blew me away. 我第一次听说这个故事的时候还在念研究生，这个故事让我太惊讶了。

　　I mean, how could the word scientist not have existed until 1833? 我是说“科学家”这个词怎么可能是1833年才出现的？

　　What were scientists called before?  在那之前科学家们如何称呼自己？

　　What had changed to make a new name necessary precisely² at that moment? 在那个年代，创造一个新的名字带来了什么改变？

　　Prior to this meeting, those who studied the natural world were talented amateurs. 在这次会议之前，研究自然世界的人都是一些很有天赋的爱好者。

　　Think of the country clergyman or squire³ collecting his beetles⁴ or fossils, 他们会是镇上的牧师或乡绅，热衷于收集甲虫或化石标本，

　　like Charles Darwin, for example, or, the hired help of a nobleman, like Joseph Priestley, 比如达尔文，又如发现了氧气的约瑟夫·普利斯特里，

　　who was the literary companion to the Marquis of Lansdowne when he discovered oxygen. 他当时是兰斯顿侯爵的陪读。

　　After this, they were scientists,  在那之后，他们都成为了科学家，

　　professionals with a particular scientific method, goals, societies and funding. 有特定的研究方法、目标、团体和资金支持的专业研究人员。

　　Much of this revolution can be traced to four men who met at Cambridge University in 1812: 许多革新都可以追溯到1812年在剑桥大学聚会的四个人：

　　Charles Babbage, John Herschel, Richard Jones and William Whewell.  查尔斯·巴贝奇，约翰·赫歇尔，理查德·琼斯和威廉姆·胡威立.

　　These were brilliant, driven men who accomplished⁵ amazing things. 这四位领军人物都非常智慧并且成果颇丰。

　　Charles Babbage, I think known to most TEDsters,  我想大多数TED听众都知道查尔斯·巴贝奇

　　invented the first mechanical calculator and the first prototype of a modern computer. 他发明了第一台机械计算机以及第一代计算机的原型。

　　John Herschel mapped the stars of the southern hemisphere, and, in his spare time, co-invented photography. 约翰·赫歇尔制作了南半球的星图，并且在他的业余时间与他人共同发明了照相技术。

　　I'm sure we could all be that productive without Facebook or Twitter to take up our time. 我相信如果我们戒掉脸书和推特，我们也能这么高产的。

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

3 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

4 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。