永垂不朽的品质:智识的美德

 　　We all know what makes for good character in soldiers. We've seen the movies about heroes who display courage, loyalty¹ and coolness under fire. But what about somebody who sits in front of a keyboard all day? Is it possible to display and cultivate character if you are just an information age office jockey, alone with a memo² or your computer?

　　我们都知道，对士兵而言，何为优秀品质的要义。我们看过的一些电影所刻画的英雄人物，在炮火中表现出了勇气、忠诚和冷静。但对一天到晚坐在键盘前的人而言，答案又是什么呢？如果你仅仅是信息时代里的一个写字楼职员，成天与备忘录或电脑相伴，那你还有机会展现和培养自己的品质吗？

　　Of course it is. Even if you are alone in your office, you are thinking. Thinking well under a barrage³ of information may be a different sort of moral challenge than fighting well under a hail of bullets, but it's a character challenge nonetheless.

　　当然可以。即便是独自待在办公室里，你也在思考。和在枪林弹雨下好好战斗相比，面对大量信息时好好思考可能是一种截然不同的道德挑战，但它仍然不失为对品性的一种挑战。

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　　In their 2007 book, "Intellectual Virtues⁵," Robert C. Roberts of Baylor University and W. Jay Wood of Wheaton College list some of the cerebral⁶ virtues. We can all grade ourselves on how good we are at each of them.

　　贝勒大学(Baylor University)的罗伯特·C·罗伯茨(Robert C. Roberts)和威顿学院(Wheaton College)的W·杰伊·伍德(W. Jay Wood)在2007年出版的《智识美德》(Intellectual Virtues)一书中，列出了一些智识上的美德。我们可以逐项给自己打分，看看自己做得怎么样。

　　First, there is love of learning. Some people are just more ardently⁷ curious than others, either by cultivation⁸ or by nature.

　　第一条是爱学习。后天养成的也好，天生的也罢，有些人就是比另外一些人具有更强烈的好奇心。

　　Second, there is courage. The obvious form of intellectual courage is the willingness to hold unpopular views. But the subtler form is knowing how much risk to take in jumping to conclusions. The reckless thinker takes a few pieces of information and leaps to some faraway conspiracy⁹ theory. The perfectionist, on the other hand, is unwilling¹⁰ to put anything out there except under ideal conditions for fear that she could be wrong. Intellectual courage is self-regulation, Roberts and Wood argue, knowing when to be daring and when to be cautious. The philosopher Thomas Kuhn pointed¹¹ out that scientists often simply ignore facts that don't fit with their existing paradigms¹², but an intellectually courageous¹³ person is willing to look at things that are surprisingly hard to look at.

　　第二条是勇气。智识的勇气有一种明显的表现形式，即乐于持有不受欢迎的观点。但它还有一种更微妙的表现形式，那就是知道急于下结论会带来多大的风险。莽撞的思考者会撷取少量信息，迅速推导出虚无缥缈的阴谋论。完美主义者则与此相反，如果条件不完备，她是不愿意下任何定论的，因为担心自己可能出错。罗伯茨和伍德说，智识的勇气是一种自律，知道在什么时候该大胆、在什么时候该谨慎。哲学家托马斯·库恩曾指出，科学家们常常简单粗暴地忽略掉跟既有范式不相符的事实；但一个人如果具有智识的勇气，会乐于去研究那些异常难于接受的事情。

　　Third, there is firmness. You don't want to be a person who surrenders his beliefs at the slightest whiff of opposition¹⁴. On the other hand, you don't want to hold dogmatically to a belief against all evidence. The median point between flaccidity and rigidity¹⁵ is the virtue⁴ of firmness. The firm believer can build a steady worldview on solid timbers but still delight in new information. She can gracefully¹⁶ adjust the strength of her conviction to the strength of the evidence. Firmness is a quality of mental agility¹⁷.

　　第三条是坚定。你肯定不想做一个听到些许反对的声音就放弃自己观点的人。另一方面，你肯定也不愿罔顾所有证据，死抱着一个观点不放。坚定这一美德就存在于软弱和顽固的中间点上。坚定地持有某些观念的人，可以用可靠的素材搭建起稳固的世界观，但仍然乐于接触新信息。她能够根据证据的力度，优雅地调整自己对某个观点的相信程度。坚定也是一种机敏。

　　Fourth, there is humility¹⁸, which is not letting your own desire for status get in the way of accuracy. The humble¹⁹ person fights against vanity and self-importance. He's not writing those sentences people write to make themselves seem smart; he's not thinking of himself much at all. The humble researcher doesn't become arrogant²⁰ toward his subject, assuming he has mastered it. Such a person is open to learning from anyone at any stage in life.

　　第四条是谦逊，有了它，你就不会让对地位的渴望妨碍自己做出准确的判断。谦逊的人会与虚荣和自大做斗争。他的笔下不会出现人们常写的那些让自己看起来很聪明的句子；他根本不是自视甚高的人。谦逊的研究人员不会在其研究领域妄自尊大，想当然地认为自己精通一切。无论处于人生的哪个阶段，这样的人都愿意向他人学习。

　　Fifth, there is autonomy. You don't want to be a person who slavishly adopts whatever opinion your teacher or some author gives you. On the other hand, you don't want to reject all guidance from people who know what they are talking about. Autonomy is the median of knowing when to bow to authority and when not to, when to follow a role model and when not to, when to adhere to tradition and when not to.

　　第五条是自主。你肯定不想盲从于导师或哪个作家表达的任何观点。另一当方面，你肯定也不愿将那些内行人士的所有指导拒之门外。自主的美德在于，知道在什么时候该服从权威，什么时候该坚持己见；什么时候该向榜样学习，什么时候该摆脱榜样；什么时候该遵循传统，什么时候该予以摒弃。

　　Finally, there is generosity²¹. This virtue starts with the willingness to share knowledge and give others credit. But it also means hearing others as they would like to be heard, looking for what each person has to teach and not looking to triumphantly²² pounce²³ upon their errors.

　　最后一条是慷慨。这种美德的起点是愿意分享知识，并给予他人应有的承认。不过，慷慨也意味着，在别人希望发出声音时予以倾听，寻找每个人能为人师表之处，不去洋洋自得地在他人身上纠错。

　　We all probably excel at some of these virtues and are deficient²⁴ in others. But I'm struck by how much of the mainstream²⁵ literature on decision-making treats the mind as some disembodied organ that can be programed like a computer.

　　在这些美德中，我们可能都是在某些方面出色，在另一些方面有所欠缺。但让我感触的是，居然有那么多关于制定决策方面的主流文章将思想当成某种脱离个人的东西，能像台计算机那样按编好的程序操作。

　　In fact, the mind is embedded²⁶ in human nature, and very often thinking well means pushing against the grain of our nature — against vanity, against laziness, against the desire for certainty, against the desire to avoid painful truths. Good thinking isn't just adopting the right technique. It's a moral enterprise and requires good character, the ability to go against our lesser²⁷ impulses for the sake of our higher ones.

　　实际上，思想蕴含在人性之中，而在很多情况下，好好思考意味着战胜我们的本性——抗击虚荣、懒惰、对确定性的渴求、对避免痛苦事实的渴望。好的思维不仅仅是采用正确的技巧。它是一种道德勇气，需要良好的品性，是克服低等冲动来获取更高尚目标的能力。

　　Montaigne once wrote that "We can be knowledgeable²⁸ with other men's knowledge, but we can't be wise with other men's wisdom." That's because wisdom isn't a body of information. It's the moral quality of knowing how to handle your own limitations. Warren Buffett made a similar point in his own sphere, "Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 I.Q. beats the guy with the 130 I.Q. Once you have ordinary intelligence, what you need is the temperament²⁹ to control the urges that get other people into trouble."

　　蒙田曾写道，“即使我们可以凭借别人的知识成为学者，但要成为哲人，却只能靠我们自己的智慧。”这是因为，智慧并非大量信息的简单集合。它是一种知晓如何应对自身局限性的道德品质。沃伦·巴菲特(Warren Buffett)曾在其领域中发表过类似的见解，“投资不是智商160的家伙打败智商130的人。只要你智力正常，你只需要自己的性情能够控制住让别人陷入麻烦的冲动。”

　　Character tests are pervasive³⁰ even in modern everyday life. It's possible to be heroic if you're just sitting alone in your office. It just doesn't make for a good movie.

　　即便是在当代日常生活中，对个人品质的考验也无处不在。就算你只是独自坐在办公室里，也可能成为英雄。只不过，这拍不成一部劲爆的电影。

1 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

2 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

3 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

4 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

5 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

6 cerebral   

adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的

参考例句：

• Your left cerebral hemisphere controls the right-hand side of your body.你的左半脑控制身体的右半身。
• He is a precise,methodical,cerebral man who carefully chooses his words.他是一个一丝不苟、有条理和理智的人，措辞谨慎。

7 ardently   

adv.热心地，热烈地

参考例句：

• The preacher is disserveing the very religion in which he ardently believe. 那传教士在损害他所热烈信奉的宗教。 来自辞典例句
• However ardently they love, however intimate their union, they are never one. 无论他们的相爱多么热烈，无论他们的关系多么亲密，他们决不可能合而为一。 来自辞典例句

8 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

9 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

10 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

11 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

12 paradigms   

n.（一词的）词形变化表( paradigm的名词复数 )；范例；样式；模范

参考例句：

• Evolution of 3 paradigms in modern karst study is reviewed. 回顾了近代岩溶学三种“范式”的更替历史。 来自互联网
• LMT provides 8 types of Learning-Map and the paradigms of each type. 学习导图技术提出了八种类型的学习导图，并分别给出图形范例加以说明。 来自互联网

13 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

14 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

15 rigidity   

adj.钢性，坚硬

参考例句：

• The rigidity of the metal caused it to crack.这金属因刚度强而产生裂纹。
• He deplored the rigidity of her views.他痛感她的观点僵化。

16 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

17 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

18 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

19 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

20 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

21 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

22 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

23 pounce   

n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意

参考例句：

• Why do you pounce on every single thing I say?干吗我说的每句话你都要找麻烦？
• We saw the tiger about to pounce on the goat.我们看见老虎要向那只山羊扑过去。

24 deficient   

adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的

参考例句：

• The crops are suffering from deficient rain.庄稼因雨量不足而遭受损害。
• I always have been deficient in selfconfidence and decision.我向来缺乏自信和果断。

25 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

26 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

27 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

28 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

29 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

30 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。