TED2014
Jim Holt: Why does the universe exist?
吉姆•霍尔特: 宇宙为何会存在？
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为什么有物存在，而不是一切皆空？换句话说：为什么宇宙会存在（我们为何会在宇宙中）？哲学家及作家吉姆•霍尔特针对这个问题，为我们带来了三种，抑或是四种解答。或者，根本没有答案。
Jim Holt - Writer and philosopher
Why is there something rather than nothing? In his book "Why Does the World Exist?" Jim Holt dares to ask. Full bio
Why is there something rather than nothing? In his book "Why Does the World Exist?" Jim Holt dares to ask. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Why does the universe exist?
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宇宙为何会存在？
00:15
Why is there — Okay. Okay. (Laughter)
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为什么有宇宙？——好吧，好吧。（笑声）
00:18
This is a cosmic mystery. Be solemn.
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这是个宇宙的谜题，所以请严肃些。
00:21
Why is there a world, why are we in it,
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为何会存在世界，为何我们会在这个世界里，
00:25
and why is there something rather than nothing at all?
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为什么有物存在，而不是一切皆空？
00:27
I mean, this is the super ultimate "why" question?
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要我说，这是最终极的“为何”。
00:31
So I'm going to talk about the mystery of existence,
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我会谈一谈“存在”的奥秘
00:34
the puzzle of existence,
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和“存在”的困惑所在，
00:35
where we are now in addressing it,
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我们在这个问题上进展到什么程度，
00:38
and why you should care,
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以及你们为何要在乎这些，
00:40
and I hope you do care.
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我希望你们确实是在乎的。
00:42
The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said that
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哲学家阿瑟•叔本华曾说，
00:45
those who don't wonder about
the contingency of their existence,
the contingency of their existence,
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那些不关心自身存在的偶然性、
00:49
of the contingency of the world's existence,
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以及这个世界存在的偶然性的人，
00:52
are mentally deficient.
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是心智不健全的。
00:53
That's a little harsh, but still. (Laughter)
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听起来有些刺耳，但这是事实。（笑声）
00:57
So this has been called the most sublime
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因此，这个谜题被称为是最崇高、
00:59
and awesome mystery,
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最令人敬畏、
01:01
the deepest and most far-reaching question
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最深刻的，也是人们可以提出的最深远
01:04
man can pose.
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的问题。
01:05
It's obsessed great thinkers.
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它吸引了很多伟大的思想家。
01:07
Ludwig Wittgenstein, perhaps the greatest
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路德维希•维特根斯坦，也许是
01:08
philosopher of the 20th century,
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二十世纪最伟大的哲学家，
01:11
was astonished that there should be a world at all.
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震惊于“世界竟然会存在”这个最基本的问题。
01:13
He wrote in his "Tractatus," Proposition 4.66,
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他在《逻辑哲学论》第4章66节中写到：
01:17
"It is not how things are in the world
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“神秘的不是世界上
01:20
that is the mystical,
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物质的存在，
01:21
it's that the world exists."
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而是这个世界本身。”
01:24
And if you don't like taking your epigrams
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如果你不喜欢听哲学家的言论，
01:26
from a philosopher, try a scientist.
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那我举一个科学家的例子吧。
01:29
John Archibald Wheeler, one of the great physicists
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约翰•阿奇博尔德•惠勒，二十世纪
01:31
of the 20th century,
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最杰出的物理学家之一，
01:33
the teacher of Richard Feynman,
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也是理查德•费曼的老师，
01:34
the coiner of the term "black hole,"
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“黑洞”一词的创作者，
01:37
he said, "I want to know
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他说：“我想知道
01:40
how come the quantum,
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量子从何而来，
01:41
how come the universe, how come existence?"
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宇宙从何而来，一切的存在从何而来？”
01:44
And my friend Martin Amis —
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我的朋友马丁•艾米斯——
01:46
sorry that I'll be doing a lot of
name-dropping in this talk,
name-dropping in this talk,
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请原谅我会一直列举很多人名，
01:49
so get used to it —
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所以，尽快习惯吧——
01:50
my dear friend Martin Amis once said
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我的好朋友马丁•艾米斯曾说，
01:55
that we're about five Einsteins away from answering
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要回答宇宙从何而来这个问题，
01:59
the mystery of where the universe came from.
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我们还需要五个爱因斯坦的智慧。
02:01
And I've no doubt there are five Einsteins
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我确信今晚这儿的观众里
02:03
in the audience tonight.
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有五位爱因斯坦，
02:05
Any Einsteins? Show of hands? No? No? No?
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有吗？是的请举手？没有？没有？没有？
02:06
No Einsteins? Okay.
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没有爱因斯坦？好吧。
02:08
So this question, why is there
something rather than nothing,
something rather than nothing,
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所以，为何有物存在，而不是一切皆空，
02:12
this sublime question, was posed rather late
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这个崇高的问题，在人类思想史相对
02:14
in intellectual history.
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后期才被提出来，
02:16
It was towards the end of the 17th century,
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是在十七世纪末，
02:19
the philosopher Leibniz who asked it,
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由哲学家莱布尼兹提出，
02:21
a very smart guy, Leibniz,
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莱布尼兹是个聪明绝顶的家伙，
02:23
who invented the calculus
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跟艾萨克•牛顿
02:25
independently of Isaac Newton,
at about the same time,
at about the same time,
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几乎在同一时期独立地创造微积分。
02:28
but for Leibniz, who asked why is
there something rather than nothing,
there something rather than nothing,
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但对于莱布尼兹，
“为何有物存在，而不是一切皆空”的问题，
“为何有物存在，而不是一切皆空”的问题，
02:31
this was not a great mystery.
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他不感觉有多神秘。
02:33
He either was or pretended to be
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在形而上的外衣下，他要么真的是，
02:35
an Orthodox Christian in his metaphysical outlook,
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要么假装是正统的基督教徒，
02:38
and he said it's obvious why the world exists:
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声称世界存在的理由再明显不过：
02:41
because God created it.
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造物主创造了世界。
02:44
And God created, indeed, out of nothing at all.
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没错，造物主从无到有地创造了世界。
02:47
That's how powerful God is.
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造物主就是这么强大。
02:48
He doesn't need any preexisting
materials to fashion a world out of.
materials to fashion a world out of.
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它不需要任何基础，凭空就能创造世界。
02:52
He can make it out of sheer nothingness,
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它能从无到有地开天辟地，
02:54
creation ex nihilo.
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所谓“创世论”。
02:56
And by the way, this is what
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顺便说一下，
02:57
most Americans today believe.
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这正是今天大部分美国人相信的。
03:00
There is no mystery of existence for them.
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对于他们而言，“存在”没有奥妙可言。
03:01
God made it.
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造物主造出来的。
03:03
So let's put this in an equation.
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我们把它表达成等式，
03:05
I don't have any slides so
I'm going to mime my visuals,
I'm going to mime my visuals,
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我没有任何演示文稿，
所以我会模拟地演示一下。
所以我会模拟地演示一下。
03:08
so use your imaginations.
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开动你们的想象力。
03:09
So it's God + nothing = the world.
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造物主+空=世界
03:15
Okay? Now that's the equation.
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没问题吧？这就是刚才提到的等式。
03:19
And so maybe you don't believe in God.
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也许你不信造物主，
03:20
Maybe you're a scientific atheist
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也许你是个信奉科学的无神论者，
03:22
or an unscientific atheist,
and you don't believe in God,
and you don't believe in God,
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或是个不信奉科学的无神论者，
你就不信造物主，
你就不信造物主，
03:26
and you're not happy with it.
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你就不能接受那个等式了。
03:27
By the way, even if we have this equation,
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顺便提一下，即便等式成立，
03:30
God + nothing = the world,
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造物主+空=世界，
03:32
there's already a problem:
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这本身就有问题：
03:33
Why does God exist?
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为何造物主会存在？
03:36
God doesn't exist by logic alone
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造物主不能只存在于逻辑中，
03:38
unless you believe the ontological argument,
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除非你相信本体论。
03:40
and I hope you don't, because
it's not a good argument.
it's not a good argument.
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我希望你不要信，
因为本体论不是很严谨。
因为本体论不是很严谨。
03:43
So it's conceivable, if God were to exist,
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设想一下，如果造物主存在，
03:46
he might wonder, I'm eternal, I'm all-powerful,
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它会想，我是永恒的，我是无所不能的，
03:49
but where did I come from?
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但我从何而来呢？
03:51
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
03:54
Whence then am I?
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吾源自何处？
03:55
God speaks in a more formal English.
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如果造物主说更正式些的英语。
03:58
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
04:00
And so one theory is that God was so bored with
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有种理论说造物主考虑自身存在的问题，
04:03
pondering the puzzle of His own existence
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考虑地实在太无聊了，
04:05
that He created the world just to distract himself.
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就创造了世界来分散注意力。
04:08
But anyway, let's forget about God.
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无论如何，我们先不谈造物主。
04:10
Take God out of the equation: We have
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把造物主从这个等式中拿走，就是
04:11
________ + nothing = the world.
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________ + 空=世界
04:14
Now, if you're a Buddhist,
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如果你是个佛教徒，
04:16
you might want to stop right there,
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你会觉得等式已经成立了，
04:18
because essentially what you've got is
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因为等式是：
04:20
nothing = the world,
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空=世界，
04:22
and by symmetry of identity, that means
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等式左右互换，
04:23
the world = nothing. Okay?
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世界=空。对吧？
04:25
And to a Buddhist, the world
is just a whole lot of nothing.
is just a whole lot of nothing.
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对于佛教徒而言，
空即是色，色即是空。
空即是色，色即是空。
04:28
It's just a big cosmic vacuity.
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万物皆空。
04:31
And we think there's a lot of something out there
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如果我们觉得世间有物，
04:33
but that's because we're enslaved by our desires.
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那是我们被欲望困住了，
04:36
If we let our desires melt away,
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放空欲望，
04:39
we'll see the world for what it truly is,
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我们就会看到世界的本真，
04:42
a vacuity, nothingness,
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空无一物，
04:44
and we'll slip into this happy state of nirvana
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这样我们就能到达涅磐的境界，
04:46
which has been defined as having
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涅磐的意思是
04:48
just enough life to enjoy being dead. (Laughter)
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看透生死，通往极乐。（笑）
04:51
So that's the Buddhist thinking.
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以上就是佛教的思想。
04:53
But I'm a Westerner, and I'm still concerned
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我是西方人，所以我仍然关心
04:56
with the puzzle of existence, so I've got
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“存在”的谜题，所以
04:58
________ + —
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________ + —
05:00
this is going to get serious in a minute, so —
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接下来我们要严肃一些了，
05:02
________ + nothing = the world.
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________ + 空= 世界
05:05
What are we going to put in that blank?
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空白处该填些什么呢？
05:06
Well, how about science?
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“科学”怎么样？
05:08
Science is our best guide to the nature of reality,
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科学最适合用来解读现实的本质，
05:12
and the most fundamental science is physics.
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最基础的科学是物理学。
05:15
That tells us what naked reality really is,
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物理学会告诉我们事实到底是什么，
05:18
that reveals what I call TAUFOTU,
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即我所谓的“TAUFOTU”
05:20
the True And Ultimate Furniture Of The Universe.
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“宇宙的真实而根本的解释”。
05:23
So maybe physics can fill this blank,
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所以，物理学或许能填入上述等式的空白，
05:26
and indeed, since about the late 1960s or around 1970,
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事实上，自从上世纪六十年代末七十年代初，
05:31
physicists have purported to give
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物理学家们声称，
05:35
a purely scientific explanation of how
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已能够用纯科学的理论
05:38
a universe like ours could have popped into existence
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来解释像我们这样的宇宙的起源，
05:41
out of sheer nothingness,
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如何从无到有地产生，
05:43
a quantum fluctuation out of the void.
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即量子波动，源于空。
05:46
Stephen Hawking is one of these physicists,
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斯蒂芬•霍金就是这些物理学家之一，
05:48
more recently Alex Vilenkin,
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还有最近的亚历克斯•维兰金，
05:50
and the whole thing has been popularized
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这整套理论由劳伦斯•克劳斯发扬广大，
05:52
by another very fine physicist and friend of mine,
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他是另一位很有名的物理学家，也是我的朋友，
05:54
Lawrence Krauss, who wrote a book called
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他写过一本书，叫
05:57
"A Universe from Nothing,"
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《无中生有的宇宙》
05:59
and Lawrence thinks that he's given —
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劳伦斯认为——
06:01
he's a militant atheist, by the way,
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他自己是激进的无神论者，顺便说一下，
06:03
so he's gotten God out of the picture.
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因而他不将造物主列入考虑范围。
06:05
The laws of quantum field theory,
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量子场论，
06:07
the state-of-the-art physics, can show how
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这个最顶尖的物理学理论，
06:09
out of sheer nothingness,
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可以揭示在空无一物、
06:10
no space, no time, no matter, nothing,
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没有空间、时间、物质，什么都没有的情况下，
06:12
a little nugget of false vacuum
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微小的假真空是如何
06:16
can fluctuate into existence,
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波动形成物质，
06:18
and then, by the miracle of inflation,
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然后，通过宇宙大爆炸，
06:20
blow up into this huge and variegated cosmos
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不断膨胀，成为我们看到的巨大而斑斓的
06:23
we see around us.
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宇宙。
06:25
Okay, this is a really ingenious scenario.
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这真是一个天才的理论，
06:28
It's very speculative. It's fascinating.
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让人眼前一亮，心驰神往。
06:31
But I've got a big problem with it,
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但我对其有个巨大的疑问，
06:33
and the problem is this:
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问题是这样的：
06:35
It's a pseudo-religious point of view.
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这是一个伪宗教主义的看法。
06:37
Now, Lawrence thinks he's an atheist,
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劳伦斯认为他是个无神论者，
06:39
but he's still in thrall to a religious worldview.
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但他还是被宗教主义的观点束缚着。
06:41
He sees physical laws as being like divine commands.
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他将物理定律看作神的旨意。
06:46
The laws of quantum field theory for him
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量子场论对他而言就如同
06:48
are like fiat lux, "Let there be light."
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圣经里那句“要有光”。
06:51
The laws have some sort of ontological power or clout
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量子场论具有某种本体论的性质，
06:55
that they can form the abyss,
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它揭示物质可以
06:57
that it's pregnant with being.
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从无到有地产生。
06:59
They can call a world into existence out of nothing.
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这些理论可以说世界从无到有，
07:02
But that's a very primitive view of what
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但这和对物理定律的
07:04
a physical law is, right?
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最基本的认识是矛盾的，不是吗？
07:06
We know that physical laws are actually
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我们知道，物理定律事实上
07:09
generalized descriptions of patterns and regularities
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是对世界上物体形态与规则
07:12
in the world.
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的基本描述，
07:13
They don't exist outside the world.
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物理定律在世界之外不存在。
07:15
They don't have any ontic cloud of their own.
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它们没有本体性质。
07:17
They can't call a world into existence
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它们不能让世界
07:19
out of nothingness.
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从无到有地产生。
07:21
That's a very primitive view
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这是对科学法则的
07:22
of what a scientific law is.
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最基础的认识。
07:24
And if you don't believe me on this,
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如果你不相信，
07:26
listen to Stephen Hawking,
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听听斯蒂芬•霍金怎么说的吧，
07:28
who himself put forward a model of the cosmos
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霍金自己创造了一个能自圆其说的
07:32
that was self-contained,
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宇宙模型，
07:33
didn't require any outside cause, any creator,
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它不需要任何外界的因素。
07:37
and after proposing this,
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在公布这个模型后，
07:39
Hawking admitted that he was still puzzled.
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霍金承认他自己仍然很困惑。
07:41
He said, this model is just equations.
185
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他说，这个模型只是些等式。
07:44
What breathes fire into the equations
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是什么激活了这个等式，
07:47
and creates a world for them to describe?
187
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创造了这个由等式描述的世界？
07:50
He was puzzled by this,
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对此他很困惑，
07:51
so equations themselves can't do the magic,
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等式自身不能产生这样的魔力，
07:55
can't resolve the puzzle of existence.
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不能解决“存在”的谜题。
07:57
And besides, even if the laws could do that,
191
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另外，即便物理学定律能解释，
08:00
why this set of laws?
192
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1823
为什么是这一套定律？
08:02
Why quantum field theory that describes
193
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为什么是以一定数量的
08:05
a universe with a certain number of forces
194
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力和粒子等等来描绘宇宙的
08:06
and particles and so forth?
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量子场理论？
08:07
Why not a completely different set of laws?
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为什么不是一套完全不同的定律？
08:10
There are many, many mathematically
consistent sets of laws.
consistent sets of laws.
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这些定律包含那么多完整的数学公式，
08:13
Why not no laws at all? Why not sheer nothingness?
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为什么不能根本没有定律？为什么不是空无一物？
08:16
So this is a problem, believe it or not,
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这个问题，信不信，
08:18
that reflective physicists really think a lot about,
200
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让很多物理学家冥思苦想，
08:21
and at this point they tend to go metaphysical,
201
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3108
现在他们倾向于形而上的思想，
08:24
say, well, maybe the set of laws
202
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那么，也许是这一套定律
08:26
that describes our universe,
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解释了宇宙，
08:28
it's just one set of laws
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1735
但它只是众多套定律之一，
08:29
and it describes one part of reality,
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2036
它只解释了部分现实，
08:31
but maybe every consistent set of laws
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2796
但也许每一套完整的定律
08:34
describes another part of reality,
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都可以解释另一部分现实。
08:36
and in fact all possible physical worlds
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事实上所有可能的现实世界
08:40
really exist, they're all out there.
209
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都存在，它们都在那。
08:42
We just see a little tiny part of reality
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2283
我们只是看到了非常小的一部分现实，
08:45
that's described by the laws of quantum field theory,
211
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这部分现实是由量子场理论描述的。
08:47
but there are many, many other worlds,
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1732
但有很多很多其他的世界
08:49
parts of reality that are described
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1766
和其他部分的现实，是由
08:51
by vastly different theories
214
519278
1957
无数的不同的理论描述的，
08:53
that are different from ours in ways we can't imagine,
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3016
这些理论跟我们的世界里的理论不同，
08:56
that are inconceivably exotic.
216
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无法想象，无法理解。
08:59
Steven Weinberg, the father
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史蒂文•温伯格，
09:01
of the standard model of particle physics,
218
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2441
粒子物理学的标准模型提出者，
09:04
has actually flirted with this idea himself,
219
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2826
以自娱自乐的态度看待这个问题，
09:07
that all possible realities actually exist.
220
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4243
他说所有可能的现实都存在。
09:11
Also, a younger physicist, Max Tegmark,
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3089
另外，一个更年轻的物理学家，马克斯•泰格马克，
09:14
who believes that all mathematical structures exist,
222
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4376
相信所有的数学理论架构都存在，
09:18
and mathematical existence is the same thing
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数学的存在跟物理的存在
09:20
as physical existence,
224
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1767
是一回事，
09:22
so we have this vastly rich multiverse
225
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2318
因此，那么多多元宇宙的存在
09:24
that encompasses every logical possibility.
226
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3441
包含了所有逻辑可能性。
09:28
Now, in taking this metaphysical way out,
227
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现在，暂不考虑形而上的哲学，
09:31
these physicists and also philosophers are actually
228
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2272
有些物理学家和哲学家
09:34
reaching back to a very old idea
229
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2522
的思想在靠近古老的
09:36
that goes back to Plato.
230
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柏拉图的思想，
09:38
It's the principle of plenitude or fecundity,
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3198
这就是“丰饶原则”，
09:41
or the great chain of being,
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1913
或称“存在之链”，
09:43
that reality is actually as full as possible.
233
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即有“无限可能”的现实。
09:47
It's as far removed from nothingness
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这是“空无一物”的
09:48
as it could possibly be.
235
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2895
绝对对立面。
09:51
So we have these two extremes now.
236
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2494
现在就有两个极端了。
09:54
We have sheer nothingness on one side,
237
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3299
一边是绝对的“空”；
09:57
and we have this vision of a reality
238
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2498
而另一个极端认为世界的实相
09:59
that encompasses every conceivable world
239
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3183
包含每一种可能的世界：
10:03
at the other extreme: the fullest possible reality,
240
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2729
“无限可能”的现实，
10:05
nothingness, the simplest possible reality.
241
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2893
对应“空无一物”，“最简可能”的现实。
10:08
Now what's in between these two extremes?
242
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2879
那这两个极端之间是什么呢？
10:11
There are all kinds of intermediate realities
243
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2027
这之间有无数现实，
10:13
that include some things and leave out others.
244
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2947
它们包含某些可能，又不完全。
10:16
So one of these intermediate realities
245
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1596
这之间的现实中，有一个
10:18
is, say, the most mathematically elegant reality,
246
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5695
从数学的角度来看是最优雅的，
10:23
that leaves out the inelegant bits,
247
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1675
不含不和谐的曲调、
10:25
the ugly asymmetries and so forth.
248
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不完美的对称等。
10:28
Now, there are some physicists who will tell you
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2326
有些物理学家会告诉你，
10:30
that we're actually living in the most elegant reality.
250
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事实上我们正生活在最优雅的这个现实中。
10:34
I think that Brian Greene is in the audience,
251
622227
2947
我想布赖恩•格林就在观众席里，
10:37
and he has written a book
called "The Elegant Universe."
called "The Elegant Universe."
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3613
他写的书叫《宇宙的琴弦》，
10:40
He claims that the universe we live in mathematically
253
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2271
他说我们的宇宙在数学的角度上是
10:43
is very elegant.
254
631058
1709
非常优雅的。
10:44
Don't believe him. (Laughter)
255
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1683
不要信他。（笑声）
10:46
It's a pious hope, I wish it were true,
256
634450
3087
这是个不切实际的希望，我倒希望他说的是真的，
10:49
but I think the other day he admitted to me
257
637537
1913
我想，那天他向我承认过，
10:51
it's really an ugly universe.
258
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3064
这个宇宙实际上是丑陋的，
10:54
It's stupidly constructed,
259
642514
1376
有着拙劣的架构，
10:55
it's got way too many arbitrary coupling constants
260
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3254
有太多随意的耦合常数、
10:59
and mass ratios
261
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1666
质量比，
11:00
and superfluous families of elementary particles,
262
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2778
以及多余的基本粒子族，
11:03
and what the hell is dark energy?
263
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2148
还有见鬼的暗能量到底是什么？
11:05
It's a stick and bubble gum contraption.
264
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3399
这个宇宙是个“泡泡糖装置”，
11:09
It's not an elegant universe. (Laughter)
265
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4003
不是一个优雅的宇宙。（笑声）
11:13
And then there's the best of all possible worlds
266
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2743
从伦理学层面看，所有可能存在的世界中，
11:15
in an ethical sense.
267
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1590
存在最完美的。
11:17
You should get solemn now,
268
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1179
你们要严肃一些了，
11:18
because a world in which sentient beings
269
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3195
在那个世界里，众生不会
11:21
don't suffer needlessly,
270
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1620
无缘由地受苦受难，
11:23
in which there aren't things like
271
671465
1869
没有像
11:25
childhood cancer or the Holocaust.
272
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2215
儿童癌症、大屠杀一类的事情。
11:27
This is an ethical conception.
273
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1251
这是在伦理学层面上看。
11:28
Anyway, so between nothingness
274
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2065
总之，在“空无一物”与
11:30
and the fullest possible reality,
275
678865
1633
“无限可能”的现实之间，
11:32
various special realities.
276
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1545
存在不同的、特殊的现实。
11:34
Nothingness is special. It's the simplest.
277
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2280
“空无一物”是特殊的，是最简单的。
11:36
Then there's the most elegant possible reality.
278
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3510
最优雅的那个现实，
11:39
That's special.
279
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1364
同样是特殊的。
11:41
The fullest possible reality, that's special.
280
689197
2652
“无限可能”的现实，也是特殊的。
11:43
But what are we leaving out here?
281
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1516
还有什么呢？
11:45
There's also just the crummy,
282
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2736
也有一些微不足道的、
11:48
generic realities
283
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1755
一般的现实，
11:49
that aren't special in any way,
284
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2621
没有任何特殊之处，
11:52
that are sort of random.
285
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1552
只是一些随机的组合。
11:54
They're infinitely removed from nothingness,
286
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2727
它们绝非“空无一物”，
11:56
but they fall infinitely short of complete fullness.
287
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3926
但也远远不是“无限可能”，
12:00
They're a mixture of chaos and order,
288
708682
2520
它们是混沌和秩序的结合，
12:03
of mathematical elegance and ugliness.
289
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4198
数学角度来看，是优雅和丑陋的结合。
12:07
So I would describe these realities
290
715400
1785
因此我会将它们描述为
12:09
as an infinite, mediocre, incomplete mess,
291
717185
4127
无限而平凡的、不完整的混沌，
12:13
a generic reality, a kind of cosmic junk shot.
292
721312
3380
一种一般的现实，一种“废物”宇宙。
12:16
And these realities,
293
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2184
这些现实，
12:18
is there a deity in any of these realities?
294
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2266
这所有的现实中，哪一个有神的概念？
12:21
Maybe, but the deity isn't perfect
295
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2411
也许有，但这个神不像
12:23
like the Judeo-Christian deity.
296
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2336
犹太和基督教的神那么完美。
12:25
The deity isn't all-good and all-powerful.
297
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3307
这个神不善良，不无所不能。
12:29
It might be instead 100 percent malevolent
298
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3331
它或许彻头彻尾地邪恶，
12:32
but only 80 percent effective,
299
740527
2103
但最多发挥80%的能力，
12:34
which pretty much describes the world
we see around us, I think. (Laughter)
we see around us, I think. (Laughter)
300
742630
6137
我想这就描绘了我们眼前的世界。（笑声）
12:40
So I would like to propose that the resolution
301
748767
2732
因此，我想提出这样一个看法，
12:43
to the mystery of existence
302
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1836
“存在”谜题的答案是：
12:45
is that the reality we exist in
303
753335
4090
我们所在的这个世界
12:49
is one of these generic realities.
304
757425
2056
是这些一般的现实之一。
12:51
Reality has to turn out some way.
305
759481
2655
现实总会以某种方式显现，
12:54
It can either turn out to be nothing
306
762136
2070
或是“空无一物”，
12:56
or everything or something in between.
307
764206
3681
或是“无限可能”，或是介于两者之间。
12:59
So if it has some special feature,
308
767887
3691
所以，如果它有某种特质，
13:03
like being really elegant or really full
309
771578
2190
像完美无缺、“无限可能”，
13:05
or really simple, like nothingness,
310
773768
1608
或绝对的简单、“空无一物”，
13:07
that would require an explanation.
311
775376
1801
就需要一个解释。
13:09
But if it's just one of these random, generic realities,
312
777177
3159
但如果它只是随机的、一般的现实之一，
13:12
there's no further explanation for it.
313
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2150
就不需要任何的解释了。
13:14
And indeed, I would say
314
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1384
说实在的，我认为
13:15
that's the reality we live in.
315
783870
1980
这正是我们眼前的世界，
13:17
That's what science is telling us.
316
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2257
这正是科学所解释的世界。
13:20
At the beginning of the week,
317
788107
1331
这周初，
13:21
we got the exciting information that
318
789438
3116
我们获悉了一则令人激动的消息，
13:24
the theory of inflation, which predicts a big,
319
792554
3139
宇宙膨胀理论，这个理论设想了广袤的、
13:27
infinite, messy, arbitrary, pointless reality,
320
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3970
无限的、混沌的、任意的、空洞的现实，
13:31
it's like a big frothing champagne
321
799663
3825
它假想宇宙像充满泡沫的香槟
13:35
coming out of a bottle endlessly,
322
803488
2684
永不停歇地从瓶口汹涌而出，
13:38
a vast universe, mostly a wasteland
323
806172
2092
广袤无垠，如荒地般，
13:40
with little pockets of charm and order and peace,
324
808264
4266
不那么优雅，缺少秩序和宁静。
13:44
this has been confirmed,
325
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2365
这个宇宙膨胀理论，
13:46
this inflationary scenario, by the observations
326
814895
2902
通过位于南极洲的电波望远镜
13:49
made by radio telescopes in Antarctica
327
817797
2093
的观测结果被证实，
13:51
that looked at the signature of the gravitational waves
328
819890
2823
这个电波望远镜观测了宇宙大爆炸前的
13:54
from just before the Big Bang.
329
822713
1924
引力波的痕迹。
13:56
I'm sure you all know about this.
330
824637
1845
我相信你们都知道这个消息了。
13:58
So anyway, I think there's some evidence
331
826482
2824
总之我想，已有证据证明，
14:01
that this really is the reality that we're stuck with.
332
829306
3487
这个现实正是我们所生活的世界。
14:04
Now, why should you care?
333
832793
3107
那么，你为什么要在乎？
14:07
Well — (Laughter) —
334
835900
1236
好吧 —（笑声）—
14:09
the question, "Why does the world exist?"
335
837136
3424
“世界为何会存在”这个问题，
14:12
that's the cosmic question, it sort of rhymes
336
840560
1679
是个宇宙层面的问题，它微妙地联系着
14:14
with a more intimate question:
337
842239
1454
一个更私人的问题：
14:15
Why do I exist? Why do you exist?
338
843693
3083
我为何会存在？你为何会存在？
14:18
you know, our existence would
seem to be amazingly improbable,
seem to be amazingly improbable,
339
846776
3600
你懂的，我们看起来
都是以极低的概率来到这个世界，
都是以极低的概率来到这个世界，
14:22
because there's an enormous number
of genetically possible humans,
of genetically possible humans,
340
850376
4319
因为基因组合可形成的人有无数多种，
14:26
if you can compute it by looking at
341
854695
1404
如果你以基因的数量
14:28
the number of the genes and the
number of alleles and so forth,
number of alleles and so forth,
342
856099
2342
和等位基因的数量来计算，
14:30
and a back-of-the-envelope calculation will tell you
343
858441
2296
很快就可以算出，
14:32
there are about 10 to the 10,000th
344
860737
2155
大概有10的10000次方
14:34
possible humans, genetically.
345
862892
1660
个可能的人。
14:36
That's between a googol and a googolplex.
346
864552
3468
介于googol与googolplex之间。
（译者注：这两个数分别是10的100次方，和10的googol次方）
（译者注：这两个数分别是10的100次方，和10的googol次方）
14:40
And the number of the actual
humans that have existed
humans that have existed
347
868020
1616
而来到过这个地球上的人，
14:41
is 100 billion, maybe 50 billion,
348
869636
2494
实际上有1000亿，或是500亿，
14:44
an infinitesimal fraction, so all of us,
349
872130
2065
是个无穷小的比例，所以，我们
14:46
we've won this amazing cosmic lottery.
350
874195
1930
所有的人都赢得了这个神奇的“彩票”，
14:48
We're here. Okay.
351
876125
2119
来到了这个世界。
14:50
So what kind of reality do we want to live in?
352
878244
2921
那么，我们想生活在哪一种现实中呢？
14:53
Do we want to live in a special reality?
353
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2250
我们想不想生活在一种特殊的现实中？
14:55
What if we were living in the
most elegant possible reality?
most elegant possible reality?
354
883415
4229
如果我们生活在最优雅的现实中怎么样？
14:59
Imagine the existential pressure on us
355
887644
2509
设想这个假定存在的压力
15:02
to live up to that, to be elegant,
356
890153
1839
施加在我们身上，要优雅，
15:03
not to pull down the tone of it.
357
891992
1866
不要做不优雅的事情。
15:05
Or, what if we were living
in the fullest possible reality?
in the fullest possible reality?
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或者，如果我们生活在有
“无限可能”的现实中呢？
“无限可能”的现实中呢？
15:08
Well then our existence would be guaranteed,
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那么我们的生存就有保障了，
15:10
because every possible thing
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因为所有可能的事情
15:12
exists in that reality,
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都存在，
15:14
but our choices would be meaningless.
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但我们的选择就变得没有意义。
15:16
If I really struggle morally and agonize
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如果我千辛万苦地维持正派，
15:19
and I decide to do the right thing,
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并下决心做正确的事，
15:21
what difference does it make,
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但这么做又会有什么不同呢？
15:22
because there are an infinite number
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因为有
15:24
of versions of me
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无数个我，
15:25
also doing the right thing
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都在做正确的事情，
15:26
and an infinite number doing the wrong thing.
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也有无数个我在做错误的事情。
15:28
So my choices are meaningless.
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因此我的选择就没意义了。
15:30
So we don't want to live in that special reality.
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所以，我们并不想生活在那种特殊的现实中。
15:32
And as for the special reality of nothingness,
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如果是在“空无一物”的现实中，
15:35
we wouldn't be having this conversation.
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我们不会在这里彼此交流。
15:37
So I think living in a generic reality that's mediocre,
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所以我想，生活在一个平凡的现实中，
15:44
there are nasty bits and nice bits
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这个现实中优雅和丑陋的事实并存，
15:46
and we could make the nice bits bigger
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我们能让优雅的事实变多，
15:47
and the nasty bits smaller
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让丑陋的事实变少，
15:50
and that gives us a kind of purpose in life.
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这会带给我们一种人生的意义。
15:53
The universe is absurd,
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在这个“荒谬”的宇宙中，
15:54
but we can still construct a purpose,
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我们仍然可以寻找到人生的意义，
15:56
and that's a pretty good one,
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还是个相当好的意义。
15:57
and the overall mediocrity of reality
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现实的平凡
15:59
kind of resonates nicely with the mediocrity
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与我们内心深处体会到平凡
16:02
we all feel in the core of our being.
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和谐地“共鸣”，
16:04
And I know you feel it.
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我知道你们能感受到。
16:06
I know you're all special,
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我知道你们都是独特的，
16:07
but you're still kind of secretly mediocre,
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但你们终究是某种“不为人知”的平凡，
16:09
don't you think?
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不是吗？
16:11
(Laughter) (Applause)
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（笑声）（掌声）
16:13
So anyway, you may say, this
puzzle, the mystery of existence,
puzzle, the mystery of existence,
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4052
总之，或许你会说，
这个谜题，这个“存在”的谜题，
这个谜题，这个“存在”的谜题，
16:17
it's just silly mystery-mongering.
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是个愚蠢的故作玄虚的问题。
16:18
You're not astonished at the existence of the universe
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你不因宇宙的存在感到惊讶，
16:22
and you're in good company.
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你觉得“岁月静好”。
16:24
Bertrand Russell said,
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伯特兰•罗素说：
16:26
"I should say the universe is just there, and that's all."
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“要我说，宇宙就是那样，没别的了。”
16:30
Just a brute fact.
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这是个残酷的现实。
16:31
And my professor at Columbia, Sidney Morgenbesser,
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我的哥伦比亚大学的教授，西德尼•摩根贝沙，
16:34
a great philosophical wag,
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1709
一位伟大又幽默的哲学家，
16:35
when I said to him, "Professor Morgenbesser,
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我问他：“摩根贝沙教授，
16:37
why is there something rather than nothing?"
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为什么有物存在，而不是一切皆空？”
16:40
And he said, "Oh, even if there was nothing,
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他回答说：”哦，即便是一切皆空，
16:42
you still wouldn't be satisfied."
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你还是不会满意。“
16:44
So — (Laughter) — okay.
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所以—（笑声）—好吧。
16:47
So you're not astonished. I don't care.
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所以，如果你不惊讶（于宇宙的存在），
我也不在乎。
我也不在乎。
16:50
But I will tell you something to conclude
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但我即将要做的结论，
16:53
that I guarantee you will astonish you,
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2278
保证会让你惊讶，
16:55
because it's astonished all of the brilliant,
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2667
因为它曾让我在TED大会上遇到的
16:58
wonderful people I've met at this TED conference,
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所有聪明的、不可思议的人惊讶，
17:00
when I've told them, and it's this:
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那就是：
17:02
Never in my life have I had a cell phone.
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我这一生中从没用过手机。
17:07
Thank you.
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谢谢。
17:09
(Laughter) (Applause)
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（笑声）（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jim Holt - Writer and philosopherWhy is there something rather than nothing? In his book "Why Does the World Exist?" Jim Holt dares to ask.
Why you should listen
In his 2012 book Why Does the World Exist?: An Existential Detective Story, Jim Holt creates a narrative out of one of the biggest questions we can ask -- and how modern scientists and philosophers are asking it. Can answers be found in many-worlds theory, in quantum mechanics, in a theology? Traveling around North America and Europe, he talks to physicists, including David Deutsch; philosophers, including Richard Swinburne; and the novelist John Updike. Why? Because as he tells Vanity Fair, "To me it’s the most sublime and awesome question in all of philosophy and all of human inquiry."
A longtime contributor to the New York Times, Slate and the New Yorker, Holt has written on string theory, time, infinity, numbers, humor, logic, truth and bullshit, among other topics. Holt studied mathematics at the University of Virginia, and was a faculty fellow in the philosophy department at Columbia. He is now at work on a book about free will, weakness of will, self-knowledge and happiness.
Jim Holt | Speaker | TED.com