Lesson 22

Knowledge and progress

Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world?
为什么进步的想法在现代世界中显得如此重要？
Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest.
当然是因为某种特定的进步实际上正在我们周围发生，并且变得越来越明显。
Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge.
尽管人类在智力或道德上没有经历普遍的改善，但在知识积累方面却取得了非凡的进步。
Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another by means of speech.
一旦一个人的思想能够通过言语传达给另一个人，知识就开始增加了。
With the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored.
随着书写的发明，人类取得了巨大的进步，因为知识从此不仅可以传播，还可以被储存。
Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound interest law, which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing.
图书馆使教育成为可能，而教育反过来又促进了图书馆的发展：知识的增长遵循一种复利法则，而这一法则因印刷术的发明而得到了极大的增强。
All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised.
所有这些相对缓慢，直到随着科学的到来，节奏突然加快了。
Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan.
然后知识开始根据一个系统的计划被积累。
The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent.
涓涓细流变成了小溪；这条小溪现在已经变成了洪流。
Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account.
此外，一旦新知识被获取，它现在就会被转化为实际应用。
What is called 'modern civilization' is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life.
所谓的“现代文明”并非人类本性全面平衡发展的结果，而是应用于实际生活的积累知识的结果。
The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge?
现在人类面临的问题是：所有这些知识将如何处理？
As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil.
正如经常被指出的那样，知识是一把可以平等地用于善或恶的双刃剑。
It is now being used indifferently for both.
它现在被不加区别地用于两者。
Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them?
例如，还有什么景象能比炮手利用科学粉碎人类身体，而同时外科医生又在近处利用科学修复他们更冷酷而异想天开的呢？
We have to ask ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, with its ever-increasing power, continues.
我们必须非常严肃地问自己，如果这种知识的双重用途及其日益增长的力量继续下去，将会发生什么。