一起翻译一本书,公众号“追随己心”将带领大家一起翻译《Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking》,将学习了多年的英语真正用起来,体会原版书籍和英文的美。
Part One The Context
第一篇背景
Anyone who wishes to master an activity must first understand its tools and rules.This is as true of critical thinking as it is of golf, carpentry, flying a plane, orbrain surgery.Incritical thinking, however, the tools are not material objects but concepts, and the rules govern mental rather than physical performance.
任何一个人想要精通一项技能,首先都必须熟悉它所需要的工具与规则。这对于批判性思维来说,正如打高尔夫球、做木工、开飞机或做外科手术一样,首先需要熟练它们的工具与方法才行。但是,在批判性思考中,它的工具并非具体的实物而是抽象的概念;它的规则控制着我们的大脑精神系统而非身体活动。
carpentry:英[ˈkɑ:pəntri],美[ˈkɑ:rpəntri] n.木器;木工手艺;
This first section explores seven important concepts—individuality, critical thinking, truth, knowledge, opinion, evidence, and argument—with a chapter devoted to each. Most of these concepts are so familiar that you maybe inclined towonder whether there is any point to examining them. The answer is yes, for three reasons. First, much of what is commonly believed about these concepts is mistaken. Second, who ever examines them carefullyis always rewarded withfreshinsights.Third, the more thorough your knowledge of these concepts, the more proficient you will be in your thinking.
本篇主要阐述七个重要概念——个性、批判性思维、真相、知识、观点、证据与论证,每个概念都通过一章来深入说明。这些概念大多为人所熟知,以致于你可能会怀疑:探讨这些概念是否有意义?答案是肯定有意义,原因有三:第一,对于这些概念的普遍理解大多数是错误的;第二,每次仔细考察这些概念时,都会有新的认识;第三,你对这些概念的认识越全面透彻,就会越善于思考。
be inclined to:倾向于;偏重;有意;
there is no point to do:做什么事没意义;
be rewarded with:得到…的奖赏;
proficient:英[prəˈfɪʃnt],美[prəˈfɪʃənt] n.精通;专家,能手;adj.熟练的;精通的;