Unit1
12 One way of summarizing the American position is to state that we value
originality and independence more than the Chinese do. The contrast between our
two
cultures
can
also
be
seen
in
terms
of
the
fears
we
both
harbor.
Chinese
teachers are fearful that if skills are not acquired early, they may never be acquired;
there is, on the other hand, no comparable hurry to promote creativity. American
educators fear that unless creativity has been acquired early, it may never emerge;
on the other hand, skills can be picked up later.
美国人的立场可以概括起来这么说,我们比中国人更重视创新和自立。我们两种文åŒ?/p>
的差异也可以从我们各自所怀的忧虑中显示出来。中国老师担心,如果年轻人不及早掌æ�?/p>
技艺,就有可能一辈子掌握不了;另一方面,他们并不同样地急于促进创造力的发展。美
国教育工作者则担心,除非从一开始就发展创造力,不然创造力就有可能永不再现;而另
一方面,技艺可于日后获得ã€?/p>
13 However, I do not want to overstate my case. There is enormous creativity
to be found in Chinese scientific, technological and artistic innovations past and
present. And there is a danger of exaggerating creative breakthroughs in the West.
When any innovation is examined closely, its reliance on previous achievements is
all too apparent (the "standing on the shoulders of giants" phenomenon).
但我并不想夸大其辞。无论在过去还是在当今,中国在科学、技术和艺术革新方面éƒ?/p>
展示了巨大的创造力ã€?/p>
而西方的创新突破则有被夸大的危险ã€?/p>
如果仔细审视任何一项创新,
其对以往成就的依赖则都显而易见(
“站在巨人肩膀之上”的现象ï¼?/p>
�/p>