Directions: Read the following passage carefully and then translate
each underlined part into Chinese.
21. We might be inclined to attribute to the act of
thinking complete from language if the individual formed or were able to form
his concepts without the verbal guidance of his environment. Yet most likely the
mental shape of an individual, growing up under such conditions, would be very
poor. Thus we may conclude that the mental development of the individual and his
way of forming concepts depend to a high degree upon language. This makes us
realize to what extent the same language means the same mentality. In this sense
thinking and language are linked together. What
distinguishes the language of science from languages, as we ordinarily
understand the word How is it that scientific language is international What
science strives for is an utmost acuteness and clarity of concepts as regards
their mutual relation and their correspondence to sensory data. As an
illustration, let us take the language of Euclidean geometry and algebra. They
manipulate with a small number of independently introduced concepts,
respectively symbols, such as the integral number, the straight line, the point,
as well as with signs which designate the fundamental concepts. This is the
basis for the construction, respectively definition of all other statements and
concepts. The connection between concepts and statements on the one hand
and the sensory data on the other hand is established through acts of counting
and measuring whose performance is sufficiently well determined.
22. The super-national character of scientific concepts and scientific
language is due to the fact that they have been set up by the best brains of all
countries and all times. In solitude and yet in cooperative effort as regards
the final effect they created the spiritual tools for the technical revolutions
which have transformed the life of mankind in the last centuries. Their system
of concepts has served as a guide in the bewildering chaos of perceptions so
that we learned to grasp general truths from particular
observations. 23. What hopes and fears does the
scientific method imply for mankind I do not think that this is the right way
to put the question. Whatever this tool in the hand of man will produce depends
entirely on the nature of the goals alive in this mankind. Once these goals
exist, the scientific method furnishes means to realize them. Yet it cannot
furnish the very goals. The scientific method itself would not have led
anywhere. It would not even have been born without a passionate striving for
clear understanding. 24. Perfection of means and
confusion of goals seem--in my opinion--to characterize our age. If we desire
sincerely and passionately the safety, the welfare and the free development of
the talents of all men, we shall not be in want of the means to approach such a
state. Even if only a small part of mankind strives for such goals, their
superiority will prove itself in the long run.