上句见:Day73
The Story of Philosophy的第74句:第1章Plato第1节The Context of Plato第5段第6句:
Traditions and dogmas rub one another down to a minimum in such centers of varied intercourse; where there are a thousand faiths we are apt to become skeptical of them all. Probably the traders were the first sceptic; they had seen too much to believe too much; and the general disposition of merchants to classify all men as either fools or knaves inclined them to question every creed. Gradually, too, they were developing science; mathematics grew with the increasing complexity of exchange, astronomy with the increasing audacity of navigation. The growth of wealth brought the leisure and security which are the prerequisite of research and speculation; men now asked the stars not only for guidance on the seas but as well for an answer to the riddles of the universe; the first Greek philosophers were astronomers. “Proud of their achievement,” says Aristotle, “men pushed farther afield after the Persian wars; they took all knowledge for their province, and sought ever wider studies.” Men grew bold enough to attempt natural explanations of processes and events before attributed to supernatural agencies and powers; magic and ritual slowly gave way to science and control; and philosophy began.
浙江大学版本:人们的胆子越来越大,开始尝试对一些过去被归结为超自然力的现象进行解释。于是,幻术和宗教仪式逐渐让位于科学和对自然的控制;哲学亦由此诞生。
解析
这句讲了哲学的诞生。人们的大胆尝试,去解释原来超自然能力,也就有了科学与哲学。
1、**Men grew bold enough to attempt natural explanations of processes and events before attributed to supernatural agencies and powers; **
大胆尝试:重新解释原来只能依赖自然解释的东西。。
bold: not afraid of danger or difficult situations无畏的
They devise a plan so bold, no one has ever attempted it before.他们设计了一个大胆的计划 从前从未有人尝试过。
2、magic and ritual slowly gave way to science and control;
转变:由魔法和仪式转向科学与控制权。
ritual:a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way
For centuries, such rituals were commonplace for European nobility.几个世纪以来, 这些礼节都是欧洲贵族的家常便饭。
give way to:让位于
When opportunities arise, they give way to the people around them.机会来临时,他们会将它们拱手让给周围的人。
3、and philosophy began.
哲学诞生:指出对自然解释的追求带来科学的发展及对自然越来越多的控制标志着哲学的开始。
人们胆子越来越大,逐渐尝试用自然法则解释那些归因于超自然组织及能力;于是魔法和仪式渐渐让位于科学和控制;哲学就这样诞生了。
整段
这段讲述了在商贸活动中,如何产生哲学。
哲学的诞生
在这种多元文化交流的中心,传统和教条相互磨合,逐渐减少到最小;同时那里有上千种信仰,我们往往会对它们都产生质疑。也许商人是最早的怀疑论者。他们见多识广以至于不轻信,而商人爱将人不是归到傻子就是归到骗子,这种秉性使他们更质疑每一种信仰。此外,他们渐渐地发展了科学;随着交易日益复杂化,数学得以发展;随着航海不断膨胀的胆量促进了天文学的发展。财富带来了空闲及安全感,这是研究与思考的前提条件。人们观察星星不仅是为了海航的导航,更是为了寻找宇宙奥秘的答案。早期希腊哲学家曾经都是天文学家。亚里士多德曾说过:“出于对已经取得成就的自豪感,战后人们推进更远,把所有的知识视为自己的研究领域并寻求更宽泛的研究。人们胆子越来越大,逐渐尝试用自然法则解释那些归因于超自然组织及能力;于是魔法和仪式渐渐让位于科学和控制;哲学就这样诞生了。
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