第22课

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Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us

当然是因为某种特定的进步确实正在我们身边发生

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and is becoming more and more manifest.

并且变得越来越明显。

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Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality,

尽管人类在智力或道德方面没有取得普遍的进步，

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it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge.

但在知识积累方面取得了非凡的进步。

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Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual

知识的增长始于个体思想

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could be communicated to another by means of speech.

可以通过言语传达给另一个人。

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With the invention of writing, a great advance was made,

随着书写的发明，取得了巨大的进步，

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for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored.

因为知识不仅可以交流，还可以储存。

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Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries:

图书馆使教育成为可能，而教育反过来又丰富了图书馆：

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the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound interest law,

知识的增长遵循了一种复利法则，

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which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing.

印刷术的发明极大地促进了这一进程。

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All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science,

所有这些都相对缓慢，直到科学的到来，

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the tempo was suddenly raised.

节奏突然加快。

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Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan.

于是知识开始按照系统的计划积累。

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The trickle became a stream: the stream has now become a torrent.

涓涓细流汇成小溪：小溪现在已变成洪流。

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Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account.

此外，一旦获得新知识，它现在就会被付诸实践。

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What is called 'modern civilization'

所谓的“现代文明”

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is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature,

并非人类所有本性平衡发展的结果，

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but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life.

而是积累的知识应用于实际生活的结果。

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The problem now facing humanity is:

人类现在面临的问题是：

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What is going to be done with all this knowledge?

所有这些知识将如何利用？

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As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon

正如人们常指出的，知识是一把双刃剑

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which can be used equally for good or evil.

既可以用于善，也可以用于恶。

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It is now being used indifferently for both.

它现在被不加区分地同时用于两者。

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Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical

比如，还有什么景象比这更令人感到残酷又荒诞呢？

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than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies

炮兵利用科学来摧毁人的身体，

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while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them?

而身边的外科医生却利用科学来修复他们？

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We have to ask ourselves very seriously

我们必须非常严肃地问自己

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what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge,

如果知识的这种双重用途，

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with its ever-increasing power, continues.

及其不断增长的力量，继续下去，将会发生什么。