ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Richard Dawkins - Evolutionary biologist
Oxford professor Richard Dawkins has helped steer evolutionary science into the 21st century, and his concept of the "meme" contextualized the spread of ideas in the information age. In recent years, his devastating critique of religion has made him a leading figure in the New Atheism.

Why you should listen

As an evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins has broadened our understanding of the genetic origin of our species; as a popular author, he has helped lay readers understand complex scientific concepts. He's best-known for the ideas laid out in his landmark book The Selfish Gene and fleshed out in The Extended Phenotype: the rather radical notion that Darwinian selection happens not at the level of the individual, but at the level of our DNA. The implication: We evolved for only one purpose — to serve our genes.

Of perhaps equal importance is Dawkins' concept of the meme, which he defines as a self-replicating unit of culture -- an idea, a chain letter, a catchy tune, an urban legend -- which is passed person-to-person, its longevity based on its ability to lodge in the brain and inspire transmission to others. Introduced in The Selfish Gene in 1976, the concept of memes has itself proven highly contagious, inspiring countless accounts and explanations of idea propagation in the information age.

In recent years, Dawkins has become outspoken in his atheism, coining the word "bright" (as an alternate to atheist), and encouraging fellow non-believers to stand up and be identified. His controversial, confrontational 2002 TED talk was a seminal moment for the New Atheism, as was the publication of his 2006 book, The God Delusion, a bestselling critique of religion that championed atheism and promoted scientific principles over creationism and intelligent design.

More profile about the speaker
Richard Dawkins | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2005

Richard Dawkins: Why the universe seems so strange

Richard Dawkins: 宇宙奇詭

Filmed:
4,013,427 views

生物學家 Richard Dawkins 察覺我們對宇宙之理解受限於人類的參照框架, 提出我們大可「異想天開」。
- Evolutionary biologist
Oxford professor Richard Dawkins has helped steer evolutionary science into the 21st century, and his concept of the "meme" contextualized the spread of ideas in the information age. In recent years, his devastating critique of religion has made him a leading figure in the New Atheism. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:25
My title標題: "QueererQueerer than we can suppose假設: The strangeness陌生感 of science科學."
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我的講題:「比我們所能想像的更離奇: 科學的不可思議」
00:31
"QueererQueerer than we can suppose假設" comes from J.B.S. Haldane霍爾丹,
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「比我們所能想像的更離奇」 引自著名生物學家霍爾登 (J. B. S. Haldane)
00:34
the famous著名 biologist生物學家, who said, "Now, my own擁有 suspicion懷疑 is
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他說道: 「我的個人猜想是,
00:38
that the universe宇宙 is not only queererqueerer than we suppose假設,
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宇宙不僅比我們想的離奇,
00:42
but queererqueerer than we can suppose假設.
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而是比我們"能想"的更離奇。
00:44
I suspect疑似 that there are more things in heaven天堂 and earth地球
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我估計天地間的事物
00:47
than are dreamed夢見 of, or can be dreamed夢見 of, in any philosophy哲學."
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比任何學說曾設想/能設想的還要多。」
00:53
Richard理查德 Feynman費曼 compared相比 the accuracy準確性 of quantum量子 theories理論 --
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費曼 形容量子理論之精確性 -
00:58
experimental試驗 predictions預測 -- to specifying確定 the width寬度 of North America美國
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實驗測準 - 相當於釐定北美洲之跨度時
01:03
to within one hair's頭髮的 breadth寬度 of accuracy準確性.
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誤差不逾一絲毫髮.
01:07
This means手段 that quantum量子 theory理論 has got to be in some sense true真正.
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意思是量子理論應該於某種意義上屬實
01:12
Yet然而 the assumptions假設 that quantum量子 theory理論 needs需求 to make
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然而, 量子理論在得出該推論前
01:14
in order訂購 to deliver交付 those predictions預測 are so mysterious神秘
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所需之假設卻又是如許深奧
01:18
that even Feynman費曼 himself他自己 was moved移動 to remark備註,
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以致於費曼亦不禁指出:
01:21
"If you think you understand理解 quantum量子 theory理論,
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「若您以為自己懂量子理論,
01:24
you don't understand理解 quantum量子 theory理論."
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您其實並不懂量子理論。」
01:27
It's so queer同性戀者 that physicists物理學家 resort採取 to one or another另一個
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真奇怪,物理學家作闡述的時候,
01:32
paradoxical自相矛盾 interpretation解釋 of it.
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竟都訴諸於這樣那樣的之悖論。
01:34
David大衛 Deutsch德語, who's誰是 talking here, in "The Fabric of Reality現實,"
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於此演說「現實結構」之 David Deutsch,
01:39
embraces擁抱 the "many許多 worlds世界" interpretation解釋 of quantum量子 theory理論,
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擁護籍以闡釋量子理論的「多宇宙論」,
01:45
because the worst最差 that you can say about it is
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因為, 對此您充其量
01:47
that it's preposterously荒謬的 wasteful浪費.
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只能數落其為浪費無度
01:49
It postulates公設 a vast廣大 and rapidly急速 growing生長 number of universes宇宙
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它假設有極多數目激增之宇宙
01:54
existing現有 in parallel平行 -- mutually相互 undetectable檢測不到 except through通過
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它們同時並存 - 並且除了通過一個量子機動實驗之窄小孔道外
01:58
the narrow狹窄 porthole炮眼 of quantum量子 mechanical機械 experiments實驗.
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互不察覺。
02:04
And that's Richard理查德 Feynman費曼.
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那是 Richard Feynman 之見解.
02:07
The biologist生物學家 Lewis劉易斯 Wolpert沃伯特
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生物學家 Lewis Wolpert
02:10
believes相信 that the queerness酷兒 of modern現代 physics物理
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相信現代物理之奇怪
02:12
is just an extreme極端 example. Science科學, as opposed反對 to technology技術,
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只是一個極端例子。 科學, 有異於(純)技術,
02:16
does violence暴力 to common共同 sense.
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確實有違常理。
02:19
Every一切 time you drink a glass玻璃 of water, he points out,
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他指出, 每當您喝一杯水,
02:23
the odds可能性 are that you will imbibe吸收 at least最小 one molecule分子
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您同時亦可能飲下
02:26
that passed通過 through通過 the bladder膀胱 of Oliver奧利弗 Cromwell克倫威爾. (Laughter笑聲)
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一個曾流過 Oliver Cromwell 膀胱之水分子。
02:31
It's just elementary初級 probability可能性 theory理論.
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這純粹是基本可能性.
02:34
The number of molecules分子 per glassful一杯 is hugely巨大 greater更大
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每杯水的水分子量, 數目遠遠大於
02:38
than the number of glassfulsglassfuls, or bladdersfulbladdersful, in the world世界 --
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世上杯量與膀胱量之數
02:41
and, of course課程, there's nothing special特別 about Cromwell克倫威爾
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再說,Crornwell 和 (他的) 膀胱當然都沒啥特別。
02:44
or bladders水囊. You have just breathed無聲 in a nitrogen atom原子
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您剛剛吸入的一個氮原子
02:47
that passed通過 through通過 the right lung of the third第三 iguanodon禽龍
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曾從第三頭禽龍的右肺
02:51
to the left of the tall cycad蘇鐵 tree.
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轉到蘇鐵高樹上那頭的左肺去。
02:56
"QueererQueerer than we can suppose假設."
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「比我們所能想像的更離奇」
03:00
What is it that makes品牌 us capable of supposing假如 anything,
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是什麼讓我們能作「猜想」呢?
03:03
and does this tell us anything about what we can suppose假設?
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這說明了我們 [能猜想出甚麼] 來嗎?
03:07
Are there things about the universe宇宙 that will be
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宇宙中可有什麼事物
03:10
forever永遠 beyond our grasp把握, but not beyond the grasp把握 of some
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是永遠在我們掌握之外, 卻不在某些更高智能
03:14
superior優越 intelligence情報? Are there things about the universe宇宙
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的掌握之外? 宇宙中可有什麼事物
03:18
that are, in principle原理, ungraspable不可捉摸 by any mind心神,
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是, 原則上, 無論多高明的智慧
03:22
however然而 superior優越?
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亦無從掌握的呢?
03:25
The history歷史 of science科學 has been one long series系列
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科學歷史是一系列悠長的
03:28
of violent暴力 brainstorms奇思妙想, as successive連續 generations
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劇烈腦震盪 (集思廣益), 後繼的新生代
03:32
have come to terms條款 with increasing增加 levels水平 of queerness酷兒
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已逐漸接受宇宙中
03:35
in the universe宇宙.
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確有愈來愈多的離奇不解。
03:37
We're now so used to the idea理念 that the Earth地球 spins自旋 --
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現在我們都已太清楚是地球繞著太陽在轉
03:40
rather than the Sun太陽 moves移動 across橫過 the sky天空 -- it's hard for us to realize實現
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並非太陽於天空中劃過 - 對此,我們實在難於理解
03:43
what a shattering驚天動地 mental心理 revolution革命 that must必須 have been.
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(當時) 會是一種多震撼的思想革命啊.
03:47
After all, it seems似乎 obvious明顯 that the Earth地球 is large and motionless不動,
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畢竟, 表面上明明是地球大喇喇地待著
03:51
the Sun太陽 small and mobile移動. But it's worth價值 recalling回顧
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而小小的太陽在移動。 值得玩味的是
03:55
Wittgenstein's維特根斯坦 remark備註 on the subject學科.
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Wittgenstein 論及此題目時所說過的話:
03:57
"Tell me," he asked a friend朋友, "why do people always say, it was natural自然
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「告訴我, 」他問一個朋友, 「為何人們總說,
04:02
for man to assume承擔 that the sun太陽 went round回合 the earth地球
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日繞地轉是人的自然構想
04:05
rather than that the earth地球 was rotating旋轉?"
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而非地繞日轉呢?
04:09
His friend朋友 replied回答, "Well, obviously明顯 because it just looks容貌 as though雖然
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他的朋友答說:「這個嗎, 看來明明就是
04:12
the Sun太陽 is going round回合 the Earth地球."
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太陽繞著地球在轉喔。」
04:15
Wittgenstein維特根斯坦 replied回答, "Well, what would it have looked看著 like
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Wittgenstein 答道: 「呃,若『看來像是地球在轉』
04:18
if it had looked看著 as though雖然 the Earth地球 was rotating旋轉?" (Laughter笑聲)
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會是如何呢? (眾笑)♫
04:27
Science科學 has taught us, against反對 all intuition直覺,
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科學讓我們曉得, 雖則與直覺相悖,
04:30
that apparently顯然地 solid固體 things, like crystals晶體 and rocks岩石,
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但那些表面上堅實的的物體, 比如水晶和石頭
04:33
are really almost幾乎 entirely完全 composed of empty space空間.
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確是幾乎全由空間所構成。
04:37
And the familiar illustration插圖 is the nucleus of an atom原子 is a fly
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最熟悉的一種解說是: 一個原子的核
04:43
in the middle中間 of a sports體育 stadium體育場 and the next下一個 atom原子
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就好比大球場中間的一隻小蒼蠅
04:46
is in the next下一個 sports體育 stadium體育場.
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而次一枚原子, 已遠在另一個大球場.
04:49
So it would seem似乎 the hardest最難, solidestsolidest, densest最密集 rock
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故此, 看來堅實緊密之石塊
04:52
is really almost幾乎 entirely完全 empty space空間, broken破碎 only by tiny particles粒子
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原來幾乎完全是由細小微粒所分隔之空間,
04:58
so widely廣泛 spaced間隔 they shouldn't不能 count計數.
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其間距是如此疏遠, 以至都可忽略不計.
05:01
Why, then, do rocks岩石 look and feel solid固體 and hard and impenetrable費解的?
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這樣說來, 為何石塊看著摸著又是那麼堅硬不透呢?
05:06
As an evolutionary發展的 biologist生物學家, I'd say this: our brains大腦 have evolved進化
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作為一個演化生物學家, 我會這麼說: 我們的腦袋是按如何
05:11
to help us survive生存 within the orders命令 of magnitude大小 of size尺寸 and speed速度
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有助於我們於某個大小及速度的範圍內
05:17
which哪一個 our bodies身體 operate操作 at. We never evolved進化 to navigate導航
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活動而演化。我們並未變成
05:21
in the world世界 of atoms原子.
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可於原子世界中漫游♫
05:22
If we had, our brains大腦 probably大概 would perceive感知 rocks岩石
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若有的話, 我們的腦袋可能會將石頭理解為
05:25
as full充分 of empty space空間. Rocks岩石 feel hard and impenetrable費解的
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空空洞洞。石頭在我們的手裡感覺堅實不透
05:29
to our hands precisely恰恰 because objects對象 like rocks岩石 and hands
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正正由於像石頭和手等物體
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cannot不能 penetrate穿透 each other. It's therefore因此 useful有用
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互不穿透。才能讓
05:38
for our brains大腦 to construct構造 notions概念 like "solidity堅固" and "impenetrability不可入性,"
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我們的腦袋構想出「堅實」和「不透」之觀念.
05:44
because such這樣 notions概念 help us to navigate導航 our bodies身體 through通過
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因為這些觀念讓我們的身體能夠
05:48
the middle-sized中型 world世界 in which哪一個 we have to navigate導航.
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於身處的「中世度」裡活動。
05:52
Moving移動 to the other end結束 of the scale規模, our ancestors祖先 never had to
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移向於尺度的另一端, 則我們的祖先根本無須
05:56
navigate導航 through通過 the cosmos宇宙 at speeds速度 close to
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以近光高速作宇航,
05:59
the speed速度 of light. If they had, our brains大腦 would be much better
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若他們有必要的話, 我們的頭腦就
06:03
at understanding理解 Einstein愛因斯坦. I want to give the name名稱 "Middle中間 World世界"
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更好明白愛因斯坦了。 我想以「中世度」
06:08
to the medium-scaled介質縮放 environment環境 in which哪一個 we've我們已經 evolved進化
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稱呼這中階環境 - 於其中我們已演化出生活能力。
06:11
the ability能力 to take act法案 -- nothing to do with Middle中間 Earth地球.
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這跟「中土大陸」無關.
06:13
Middle中間 World世界. (Laughter笑聲)
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是 「中世度」. (哄笑)
06:17
We are evolved進化 denizens嬌客 of Middle中間 World世界, and that limits範圍
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我們乃經演化入籍「中世度」的僑民, 這限制了
06:21
what we are capable of imagining想像. We find it intuitively直觀地 easy簡單
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我們想像所及, 直覺上您會覺得很容易
06:25
to grasp把握 ideas思路 like, when a rabbit兔子 moves移動 at the sort分類 of
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掌握觀念如:
06:28
medium velocity速度 at which哪一個 rabbits and other Middle中間 World世界 objects對象 move移動,
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當兔子以 「一般免子和其他中世度物體運動之速度」 走動
06:32
and hits點擊 another另一個 Middle中間 World世界 object目的, like a rock, it knocks敲門 itself本身 out.
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然後跟中世度裡另一個物體如石頭碰上的話, 它將被撞倒昏掉。
06:38
May可能 I introduce介紹 Major重大的 General一般 Albert阿爾伯特 StubblebineStubblebine IIIIII,
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讓我介紹一下史達柏拜恩三世少將
06:44
commander指揮官 of military軍事 intelligence情報 in 1983.
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1983年之軍事情報指揮官
06:49
He stared盯著 at his wall in Arlington阿靈頓, Virginia弗吉尼亞州, and decided決定 to do it.
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他於維吉尼亞州的阿靈頓,盯著自己房牆,並決定要幹上了
06:54
As frightening可怕的 as the prospect展望 was, he was going into the next下一個 office辦公室.
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有多驚人, 可想而知 - 他要穿越至隔壁辦公室呢.
07:00
He stood站在 up, and moved移動 out from behind背後 his desk.
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他站起, 從檯後走出來
07:05
What is the atom原子 mostly大多 made製作 of? he thought. Space空間.
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「原子主要由啥構成?」 他在想,「是空間」.
07:09
He started開始 walking步行. What am I mostly大多 made製作 of? Atoms原子.
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他開始行動,「我主要由啥構成?」,「是原子」
07:15
He quickened加快 his pace步伐, almost幾乎 to a jog慢跑 now.
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他加快腳步, 幾乎在小跑了.
07:18
What is the wall mostly大多 made製作 of? Atoms原子.
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「這牆主要由啥構成?」,「也不就是原子嘛」.
07:23
All I have to do is merge合併 the spaces空間.
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「我只需將所有空間融合。」
07:27
Then, General一般 StubblebineStubblebine banged拍著 his nose鼻子 hard on the wall
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就這樣, 少將狠狠地讓鼻子扣上辦公室的牆去
07:32
of his office辦公室. StubblebineStubblebine, who commanded指揮 16,000 soldiers士兵,
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史達柏拜恩, 一個萬六士兵之統帥,
07:38
was confounded混淆 by his continual持續 failure失敗 to walk步行 through通過 the wall.
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為總是穿不過牆而困感不已
07:42
He has no doubt懷疑 that this ability能力 will, one day, be a common共同 tool工具
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他毫不懷疑有一天這將成為軍火庫裡一件普通武器
07:45
in the military軍事 arsenal兵工廠. Who would screw around with an army軍隊
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誰敢跟會這個 (穿牆過壁) 的軍隊過不去?
07:48
that could do that? That's from an article文章 in Playboy花花公子,
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這是《花花公子》一篇文章
07:53
which哪一個 I was reading the other day. (Laughter笑聲)
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我前兩天看時讀到的。 (哄笑)®
07:56
I have every一切 reason原因 to think it's true真正; I was reading Playboy花花公子
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我有充份理由相信此文之真確性; 我那天翻《花花公子》
07:59
because I, myself, had an article文章 in it. (Laughter笑聲)
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因為裡頭登了我自己的一篇文。 (哄笑)
08:07
Unaided獨立的 human人的 intuition直覺 schooled接受教育 in Middle中間 World世界
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在「中世度」裡練就之人類直覺, 若無其他協助
08:12
finds認定 it hard to believe Galileo伽利略 when he tells告訴 us
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難以相信伽理略所言:
08:15
a heavy object目的 and a light object目的, air空氣 friction摩擦 aside在旁邊,
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若撇除磨擦阻抗, 下墜物不論輕重
08:19
would hit擊中 the ground地面 at the same相同 instant瞬間.
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都會同時觸地。
08:20
And that's because in Middle中間 World世界, air空氣 friction摩擦 is always there.
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那是因為於「中世度」裡, 空氣阻力經常存在.
08:24
If we'd星期三 evolved進化 in a vacuum真空, we would expect期望 them
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倘若我們是乃於真空中演化過來, 就(自然)會預期
08:27
to hit擊中 the ground地面 simultaneously同時. If we were bacteria,
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它們於同一刻觸地。 又假若我們是
08:30
constantly經常 buffeted挨打 by thermal movements運動 of molecules分子,
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不斷讓粒子熱動流撞擊的細菌
08:33
it would be different不同,
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情況就不一樣了,
08:35
but we Middle中間 WorldersWorlders are too big to notice注意 Brownian布朗 motion運動.
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但我們這些「中世度」住民太大了, 難以察見布朗(微粒子)運動。
08:39
In the same相同 way, our lives生活 are dominated佔主導地位 by gravity重力
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同樣地, 我們的生活受引力支配
08:42
but are almost幾乎 oblivious渾然不覺 to the force of surface表面 tension張力.
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卻又幾乎對表面張力眊然不察。
08:46
A small insect昆蟲 would reverse相反 these priorities優先.
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一隻小昆蟲卻會將這先後倒序。
08:50
Steve史蒂夫 Grand盛大 -- he's the one on the left,
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Steve Grand - 左邊的那位
08:52
Douglas道格拉斯 Adams亞當斯 is on the right -- Steve史蒂夫 Grand盛大, in his book,
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右邊的那位是 Douglas Adams -- Steve Grand 在他的書
08:55
"Creation創建: Life and How to Make It," is positively積極 scathing騰騰
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《創造: 生命和如何創生》中, 嚴厲抨擊
08:59
about our preoccupation當務之急 with matter itself本身.
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我們對事物本身總是先入為主.
09:03
We have this tendency趨勢 to think that only solid固體, material材料 things
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我們傾向只將硬梆梆的物質視為
09:07
are really things at all. Waves波浪 of electromagnetic電磁 fluctuation波動
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僅有實體。 於真空中跌宕起伏的電磁波
09:12
in a vacuum真空 seem似乎 unreal虛幻.
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卻顯得不實在。
09:15
Victorians維多利亞時代 thought the waves波浪 had to be waves波浪 in some material材料 medium:
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維多利亞時期的人總認為波必須載存於某種物質介體裡 -
09:20
the ether. But we find real真實 matter comforting欣慰的 only because
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以太。 但我們對實物感到惬意是因為
09:24
we've我們已經 evolved進化 to survive生存 in Middle中間 World世界,
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我們是經過演化變成適合於「中間世界」存活,
09:28
where matter is a useful有用 fiction小說.
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(在裡面)「物體」是很管用之設想
09:31
A whirlpool渦流, for Steve史蒂夫 Grand盛大, is a thing with just as much reality現實
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對史提夫.格蘭特來說, 一股漩渦
09:35
as a rock.
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有著跟
09:38
In a desert沙漠 plain in Tanzania坦桑尼亞, in the shadow陰影 of the volcano火山
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坦尚尼亞沙漠平原上一塊石塊的同等實在。
09:42
OlOL DonyoDonyo Lengai倫蓋, there's a dune沙丘 made製作 of volcanic火山 ash.
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於倫蓋火山 (Ol Doinyo Lengai) 之陰影下有個火山灰形成之小丘
09:46
The beautiful美麗 thing is that it moves移動 bodily身體.
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優美的是它整體移動著
09:50
It's what's technically技術上 known已知 as a "barchan新月形沙丘," and the entire整個 dune沙丘
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那正是正式稱作「新月丘」的, 整個山丘
09:53
walks散步 across橫過 the desert沙漠 in a westerly往西 direction方向
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向西方橫越沙漠
09:56
at a speed速度 of about 17 meters per year.
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速度是每年17公尺。
10:00
It retains保留 its crescent新月 shape形狀 and moves移動 in the direction方向 of the horns牛角.
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它維持著其弦月形態並向著(非洲之)角移動。
10:04
What happens發生 is that the wind blows打擊 the sand
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事實是,風會將沙吹過
10:07
up the shallow slope on the other side, and then,
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沙丘另一端的淺坡, 接著
10:10
as each sand grain糧食 hits點擊 the top最佳 of the ridge,
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每顆到挺達山脊的沙粒,
10:11
it cascades級聯 down on the inside of the crescent新月,
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就會流瀉注入山丘之內
10:14
and so the whole整個 horn-shaped喇叭形 dune沙丘 moves移動.
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整號角形山丘就是這樣一直往前走。
10:20
Steve史蒂夫 Grand盛大 points out that you and I are, ourselves我們自己,
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史提夫指出, 你我本身
10:23
more like a wave than a permanent常駐 thing.
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就更像一個浪, 而不是一個恒長不變的東西
10:27
He invites邀請 us, the reader讀者, to "think of an experience經驗
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他邀請我們, 讀者, 去回想
10:30
from your childhood童年 -- something you remember記得 clearly明確地,
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一段童年體驗, 某些您清晰記得,
10:33
something you can see, feel, maybe even smell,
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某些您能見得, 能觸及, 甚至可嗅到,
10:36
as if you were really there.
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好比您此刻正處身其中的情況。
10:37
After all, you really were there at the time, weren't you?
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說來, 您確曾身處其中嚒?
10:41
How else其他 would you remember記得 it?
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若不, 您是如何記起?
10:43
But here is the bombshell重磅炸彈: You weren't there.
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我要向您投彈了: 您當時並不在場!
10:46
Not a single atom原子 that is in your body身體 today今天 was there
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在事件發生時,
10:49
when that event事件 took place地點. Matter flows流動 from place地點 to place地點
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您身上的所有原子不曾出現於當下。物質流徙
10:53
and momentarily瞬間 comes together一起 to be you.
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並暫時聚合形成「您」而已。
10:56
Whatever隨你 you are, therefore因此, you are not the stuff東東
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故此, 無論您現在是什麽, 都不再是
10:59
of which哪一個 you are made製作.
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組成那之前的您的「餡料」了。
11:02
If that doesn't make the hair頭髮 stand up on the back of your neck頸部,
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若這還不讓您毛管直豎,
11:04
read it again until直到 it does, because it is important重要."
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多讀一遍直至您看懂吧, 因為實在太重要了!
11:09
So "really" isn't a word that we should use with simple簡單 confidence置信度.
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所以,且別隨便說出 「事實上」 這詞
11:14
If a neutrino中微子 had a brain,
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假若一顆微中子有
11:16
which哪一個 it evolved進化 in neutrino-sized中微子大小 ancestors祖先,
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一個由微中子祖先演化而來之腦袋,
11:19
it would say that rocks岩石 really do consist組成 of empty space空間.
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它會說石頭 「事實上」由「空間」所構成
11:24
We have brains大腦 that evolved進化 in medium-sized中型 ancestors祖先
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我們卻是有由「中形祖先」演化而來的腦袋,
11:26
which哪一個 couldn't不能 walk步行 through通過 rocks岩石.
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無法從石頭穿過去
11:29
"Really," for an animal動物, is whatever隨你 its brain needs需求 it to be
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對於動物來說, 所謂「真實」 就是其按腦袋所要求,
11:33
in order訂購 to assist助攻 its survival生存,
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的維生指涉
11:36
and because different不同 species種類 live生活 in different不同 worlds世界,
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由於不動物種生活於不同(大小領域)世界之中,
11:39
there will be a discomforting令人不安 variety品種 of "really"s.
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確有某些「現實」並不讓我們感到愜意。
11:45
What we see of the real真實 world世界 is not the unvarnished坦率 world世界
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我們所見之現實世界並非原型
11:49
but a model模型 of the world世界, regulated調控 and adjusted調整 by sense data數據,
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而是一個透過調適感知數據而建構,
11:54
but constructed so it's useful有用 for dealing交易 with the real真實 world世界.
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並賴以有效處理現實之模式。
11:58
The nature性質 of the model模型 depends依靠 on the kind of animal動物 we are.
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模式之性質取決於我們是那一種動物
12:02
A flying飛行 animal動物 needs需求 a different不同 kind of model模型
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飛翔的動物需要一種
12:05
from a walking步行, climbing攀登 or swimming游泳的 animal動物.
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有異於走動、爬動或游動物種的模式
12:08
A monkey's猴子的 brain must必須 have software軟件 capable of simulating模擬
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猿猴的腦必須有軟體
12:13
a three-dimensional三維 world世界 of branches分支機構 and trunks樹幹.
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模擬樹枝樹幹的三度空間
12:16
A mole's摩爾的 software軟件 for constructing建設 models楷模 of its world世界
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鼴鼠建構其世界的軟體
12:19
will be customized定制 for underground地下 use.
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當然是為「地底應用」而量身訂做的
12:22
A water strider's黽的 brain doesn't need 3D software軟件 at all,
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水黽的腦袋完全無需3D軟體,
12:26
since以來 it lives生活 on the surface表面 of the pond池塘
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因為牠只於生活於
12:28
in an Edwin埃德溫 Abbott雅培 flatland平原.
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Edwin Abbott 平原的湖面上
12:32
I've speculated推測 that bats蝙蝠 may可能 see color顏色 with their ears耳朵.
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我曾推想蝙蝠或許能以聽覺分辨顏色
12:37
The world世界 model模型 that a bat蝙蝠 needs需求 in order訂購 to navigate導航
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蝙蝠賴以活動往來,
12:40
through通過 three dimensions尺寸 catching insects昆蟲
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捕食昆蟲的世界模式
12:42
must必須 be pretty漂亮 similar類似 to the world世界 model模型 that any flying飛行 bird,
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必然跟飛鳥的世界模式頗相近,
12:45
a day-flying天飛行 bird like a swallow, needs需求 to perform演出
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一隻於日間飛行的鳥如麻雀, 亦要
12:48
the same相同 kind of tasks任務.
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做同樣的工夫
12:50
The fact事實 that the bat蝙蝠 uses使用 echoes迴聲 in pitch瀝青 darkness黑暗
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蝙蝠於漆黑中利用回聲
12:53
to input輸入 the current當前 variables變量 to its model模型,
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以輸入當下之變數
12:56
while the swallow uses使用 light, is incidental附帶的.
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麻雀則用光, 兩者皆偶發
12:59
Bats蝙蝠, I've even suggested建議, use perceived感知 hues色調, such這樣 as red and blue藍色,
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我甚至提出, 蝙蝠利用意識到的色彩, 像紅和藍
13:04
as labels標籤, internal內部 labels標籤, for some useful有用 aspect方面 of echoes迴聲 --
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作標記, 作部分回聲可用處的「內標」 -
13:11
perhaps也許 the acoustic texture質地 of surfaces, furry毛茸茸 or smooth光滑 and so on,
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例如平面的「聲質」、 毛狀、平滑...等等。
13:15
in the same相同 way as swallows燕子 or, indeed確實, we, use those
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麻雀, 以至我們亦確實以同樣方法
13:19
perceived感知 hues色調 -- redness發紅 and blueness藍色 etc等等. --
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去感識顏色 - 紅彩, 藍彩...以此類推 -
13:22
to label標籤 long and short wavelengths波長 of light.
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為長短光波作標記。
13:24
There's nothing inherent固有 about red that makes品牌 it long wavelength波長.
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紅色並無任何拜必須為長光波之本質
13:29
And the point is that the nature性質 of the model模型 is governed治理 by
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要點是模式之性質取決於
13:31
how it is to be used, rather than by the sensory感覺的 modality形態 involved參與.
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其被如何應用, 而非其感官形態.
13:38
J. B .S. Haldane霍爾丹 himself他自己 had something to say about animals動物
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霍爾登有些
13:41
whose誰的 world世界 is dominated佔主導地位 by smell.
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關於那些被嗅覺支配其世界之動物的見解:
13:44
Dogs小狗 can distinguish區分 two very similar類似 fatty脂肪 acids, extremely非常 diluted:
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即使經過極端稀釋, 狗隻仍能分辨兩種極接近之脂肪酸:
13:49
caprylic辛酸 acid and caproic acid.
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辛酸和已酸。
13:52
The only difference區別, you see, is that one has an extra額外 pair of
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唯一分野, 是兩者其一。
13:55
carbon atoms原子 in the chain.
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(分子)鍊上多出一對碳分子。
13:57
Haldane霍爾丹 guesses猜測 that a dog would probably大概 be able能夠 to place地點 the acids
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霍爾登估計狗隻以嗅覺, 將兩種酸
14:01
in the order訂購 of their molecular分子 weights權重 by their smells氣味,
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按其分子重量依次排序,
14:05
just as a man could place地點 a number of piano鋼琴 wires電線
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正如一個人將一組琴弦
14:08
in the order訂購 of their lengths長度 by means手段 of their notes筆記.
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按其音高排好長短次序。
14:12
Now, there's another另一個 fatty脂肪 acid, capric acid,
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現在, 再有另一種叫癸酸
14:16
which哪一個 is just like the other two,
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跟前兩種基本上一樣,
14:17
except that it has two more carbon atoms原子.
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只是多出兩個碳分子。
14:20
A dog that had never met會見 capric acid would, perhaps也許,
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一頭狗即若從未碰過癸酸, 亦能
14:23
have no more trouble麻煩 imagining想像 its smell than we would have trouble麻煩
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想像出其氣味, 情況不會難於我們
14:28
imagining想像 a trumpet喇叭, say, playing播放 one note注意 higher更高
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聽過吹號後想像
14:31
than we've我們已經 heard聽說 a trumpet喇叭 play before.
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吹出比剛聽過的高一個音。
14:36
Perhaps也許 dogs小狗 and rhinos犀牛 and other smell-oriented聞為本 animals動物
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或許狗隻犀牛和其他氣味主導的動物
14:41
smell in color顏色. And the argument論據 would be
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是在嗅「色」。 這樣說來理論就
14:44
exactly究竟 the same相同 as for the bats蝙蝠.
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就跟蝙蝠的情況無異了。
14:48
Middle中間 World世界 -- the range範圍 of sizes大小 and speeds速度
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我們經演化適應之中間世界
14:52
which哪一個 we have evolved進化 to feel intuitively直觀地 comfortable自在 with --
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- 其範圍裡的大小和速度
14:55
is a bit like the narrow狹窄 range範圍 of the electromagnetic電磁 spectrum光譜
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有點像我們於窄幅電磁譜上
14:59
that we see as light of various各個 colors顏色.
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將光看成不同顏色
15:02
We're blind to all frequencies頻率 outside that,
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除非借助儀器,
15:04
unless除非 we use instruments儀器 to help us.
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否則譜外頻率我們根本就看不到。
15:09
Middle中間 World世界 is the narrow狹窄 range範圍 of reality現實
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我們將中間世界裡的片面現實認定為正常
15:12
which哪一個 we judge法官 to be normal正常, as opposed反對 to the queerness酷兒
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超小/超巨和超速世界的一切
15:15
of the very small, the very large and the very fast快速.
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則相對看成詭異。
15:20
We could make a similar類似 scale規模 of improbabilities不大可能發生的事;
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我們可以為「不可能性」作個類似量度
15:23
nothing is totally完全 impossible不可能.
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沒有甚麼是完全不可能的。
15:25
Miracles奇蹟 are just events事件 that are extremely非常 improbable難以置信.
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奇蹟可說成是「極端不可能的事件」而矣。
15:29
A marble大理石 statue雕像 could wave its hand at us; the atoms原子 that make up
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一個石像可能正在向我們招手 - 組成其
15:33
its crystalline structure結構體 are all vibrating振動 back and forth向前 anyway無論如何.
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晶體結構的原子確是在前後顛動
15:37
Because there are so many許多 of them,
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由於數量極多,
15:39
and because there's no agreement協議 among其中 them
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其中又並沒一致之
15:41
in their preferred首選 direction方向 of movement運動, the marble大理石,
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作用方向, 之所以我們眼見的
15:44
as we see it in Middle中間 World世界, stays入住 rock steady穩定.
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是「中間世界」裡一尊穩坐著的石像。
15:47
But the atoms原子 in the hand could all just happen發生 to move移動
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可其手裡的原子卻正
15:49
the same相同 way at the same相同 time, and again and again.
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同時照樣反覆在移動。
15:52
In this case案件, the hand would move移動 and we'd星期三 see it waving揮手 at us
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按此, 手會有動作, 我們會看到它向我們揮動。
15:56
in Middle中間 World世界. The odds可能性 against反對 it, of course課程, are so great
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但在「中間世界」裡跟這相悖之種種是如許不計其數,
16:00
that if you set out writing寫作 zeros at the time of
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多得好比您由宇宙起始一刻開始畫 0
16:03
the origin起源 of the universe宇宙, you still would not have
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到此時此刻
16:06
written書面 enough足夠 zeros to this day.
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您還沒有畫上足夠的 0 那樣多。
16:12
Evolution演化 in Middle中間 World世界 has not equipped裝備 us to handle處理
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於中間世界裡的演化並沒有裝備我們去處理
16:13
very improbable難以置信 events事件; we don't live生活 long enough足夠.
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極度不可能的情境; 我們根本活得不夠久。
16:16
In the vastness廣大 of astronomical天文 space空間 and geological地質 time,
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於巨大無垠之天際和時空裡
16:21
that which哪一個 seems似乎 impossible不可能 in Middle中間 World世界
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那些於「中間世界」看來不可能的
16:24
might威力 turn out to be inevitable必然.
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可都變得理所當然了。
16:28
One way to think about that is by counting數數 planets行星.
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考量這個的一個方法是點數星星.
16:32
We don't know how many許多 planets行星 there are in the universe宇宙,
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我們不知道宇宙中確實總共有多小行星,
16:34
but a good estimate估計 is about 10 to the 20, or 100 billion十億 billion十億.
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合理估計是10的20次方, 或一億萬億顆.
16:38
And that gives us a nice不錯 way to express表現 our estimate估計
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這可算是我們對於生命之「不可能性」
16:41
of life's人生 improbability不大可能.
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一個不錯的表述。
16:44
Could make some sort分類 of landmark里程碑 points
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這可能會於看來像電磁波譜
16:46
along沿 a spectrum光譜 of improbability不大可能, which哪一個 might威力 look like
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的「不可能性譜表」 上
16:49
the electromagnetic電磁 spectrum光譜 we just looked看著 at.
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留下某些記號吧。
16:54
If life has arisen興起 only once一旦 on any --
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若生命只曾冒起一次
16:58
if -- if life could -- I mean, life could originate起源 once一旦 per planet行星,
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我意思是, 生命若於每顆行星都冒起一次
17:01
could be extremely非常 common共同, or it could originate起源 once一旦 per star,
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則可算是極尋常, 但若生命的出現乃每顆恆星,
17:06
or once一旦 per galaxy星系 or maybe only once一旦 in the entire整個 universe宇宙,
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或每個星系, 甚或整個宇宙的單一事件,
17:11
in which哪一個 case案件 it would have to be here. And somewhere某處 up there
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則我們相信正正身處其中。而天上某處
17:14
would be the chance機會 that a frog青蛙 would turn into a prince王子
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青蛙可變成王子
17:16
and similar類似 magical神奇 things like that.
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種種類似奇事都可以發生
17:20
If life has arisen興起 on only one planet行星 in the entire整個 universe宇宙,
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若生命於整個宇宙中只曾於一個行星冒起
17:24
that planet行星 has to be our planet行星, because here we are talking about it.
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那行星就是我們的地球, 因為我們正在此討論其事 !
17:28
And that means手段 that if we want to avail ourselves我們自己 of it,
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意思是若我們作如是想
17:31
we're allowed允許 to postulate假定 chemical化學 events事件 in the origin起源 of life
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則我們大可就生命起始之化學情狀作出假設
17:35
which哪一個 have a probability可能性 as low as one in 100 billion十億 billion十億.
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其可能性低於億萬億分之一
17:39
I don't think we shall have to avail ourselves我們自己 of that,
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我並不認為我們該這樣做
17:42
because I suspect疑似 that life is quite相當 common共同 in the universe宇宙.
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因為我估計宇宙中生機處處
17:45
And when I say quite相當 common共同, it could still be so rare罕見
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我雖說普遍, 但一個生命島跟另一個遇上的機會
17:48
that no one island of life ever encounters遭遇 another另一個,
285
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卻仍是極其稀有的。
17:52
which哪一個 is a sad傷心 thought.
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這想起來真有點悲傷
17:55
How shall we interpret "queererqueerer than we can suppose假設?"
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「比我們能想像的更離奇」該如何詮釋呢?
17:58
QueererQueerer than can in principle原理 be supposed應該,
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比「基本上能想像的」離奇,
18:01
or just queererqueerer than we can suppose假設, given特定 the limitations限制
289
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或「比我們有限的大腦所能想像的更奇」
18:04
of our brain's大腦的 evolutionary發展的 apprenticeship學徒 in Middle中間 World世界?
290
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(我們經演化所得「中間世界」大腦)
18:09
Could we, by training訓練 and practice實踐, emancipate解放 ourselves我們自己
291
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我們可通過訓練和實習
18:12
from Middle中間 World世界 and achieve實現 some sort分類 of intuitive直觀的,
292
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擺脫中間世界之囿限, 而獲取對「極少和極大」之某些直覺的,
18:15
as well as mathematical數學的, understanding理解 of the very small
293
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甚或數學算計的理解麼?
18:18
and the very large? I genuinely真正的 don't know the answer回答.
294
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我真的不知道答案。
18:22
I wonder奇蹟 whether是否 we might威力 help ourselves我們自己 to understand理解, say,
295
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我懷疑我們是否可幫助自己瞭解, 譬如說,
18:25
quantum量子 theory理論, if we brought up children孩子 to play computer電腦 games遊戲,
296
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量子理論,
18:29
beginning開始 in early childhood童年, which哪一個 had a sort分類 of
297
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方法是以從少培養孩子玩一些
18:32
make-believe讓我相信 world世界 of balls going through通過 two slits狹縫 on a screen屏幕,
298
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有波波穿梭於裡二維虛擬世界的電腦遊戲
18:34
a world世界 in which哪一個 the strange奇怪 goings探班 on of quantum量子 mechanics機械學
299
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其中量子力學的種種奇怪活動
18:37
were enlarged放大 by the computer's電腦 make-believe讓我相信,
300
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於電腦的虛擬世界中被放大
18:40
so that they became成為 familiar on the Middle-World中土世界 scale規模 of the stream.
301
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於是他們(即使)於中間世界的流程上亦逐漸(對量子微世道)熟悉起來。
18:44
And, similarly同樣, a relativistic相對論 computer電腦 game遊戲 in which哪一個
302
1099000
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同樣地, 一個於屏幕上展示「勞侖茲收縮變換」的
18:47
objects對象 on the screen屏幕 manifest表現 the Lorenz洛倫茨 Contraction收縮, and so on,
303
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「相對論」電玩, 依此類推,
18:52
to try to get ourselves我們自己 into the way of thinking思維 --
304
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以嘗試將我們引帶至該種思考方式 -
18:54
get children孩子 into the way of thinking思維 about it.
305
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領帶孩子進入(積極)思考的路徑上
18:57
I want to end結束 by applying應用 the idea理念 of Middle中間 World世界
306
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我想將 「中間世界」的觀點
19:01
to our perceptions看法 of each other.
307
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應用於我們的相互觀照上
19:04
Most scientists科學家們 today今天 subscribe訂閱 to a mechanistic機械 view視圖 of the mind心神:
308
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現時大部分科學家都認同理智乃機械性的看法:
19:08
we're the way we are because our brains大腦 are wired有線 up as they are;
309
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我們的所有舉措思路, 都早已鋪設於我們的腦袋中
19:12
our hormones激素 are the way they are.
310
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我們(體內)的荷爾蒙亦不外如是(種種化學激素)
19:13
We'd星期三 be different不同, our characters人物 would be different不同,
311
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我們的神經結構或生理化學若有所不同,
19:15
if our neuro-anatomy神經解剖學 and our physiological生理 chemistry化學 were different不同.
312
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我們就是不一樣的人, 有不一樣的性格了.
19:20
But we scientists科學家們 are inconsistent不符. If we were consistent一貫,
313
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但我們科學家並不一致, 若是的話,
19:24
our response響應 to a misbehaving行為不端 person, like a child-murderer兒童殺人犯,
314
1139000
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那我們對一個, 譬如謀殺兒童犯的反應,
19:27
should be something like, this unit單元 has a faulty不完善的 component零件;
315
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就應該像是, 這單位有個壞掉了的部件,
19:30
it needs需求 repairing修復. That's not what we say.
316
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要修理處置了。 我們並不這樣說。
19:33
What we say -- and I include包括 the most austerely簡樸 mechanistic機械 among其中 us,
317
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我們是說 - 我將我們當中持最嚴肅機械論的包括在內,
19:37
which哪一個 is probably大概 me --
318
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那個大可能正是我本人 -
19:38
what we say is, "Vile惡劣 monster怪物, prison監獄 is too good for you."
319
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我們會說的是, 「惡魔, 監禁實在太便宜你了」
19:42
Or worse更差, we seek尋求 revenge復仇, in all probability可能性 thereby從而 triggering觸發
320
1157000
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甚或更糟, 我們會圖謀報復, 以致極可能觸發
19:46
the next下一個 phase in an escalating不斷升級 cycle週期 of counter-revenge反報復,
321
1161000
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下一波的升級循環報復,
19:49
which哪一個 we see, of course課程, all over the world世界 today今天.
322
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這種現象於當今世界觸目皆是。
19:52
In short, when we're thinking思維 like academics學者,
323
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簡言之, 當我們像學者一樣地思考時,
19:55
we regard看待 people as elaborate闡述 and complicated複雜 machines,
324
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我們將人看成精密複雜的機體,
19:58
like computers電腦 or cars汽車, but when we revert還原 to being存在 human人的
325
1173000
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像電腦和汽車一樣, 但當我們恢復人性立場時
20:03
we behave表現 more like Basil羅勒 Fawlty寶泉, who, we remember記得,
326
1178000
3000
我們就變得更像 Basil Fawlty, 我們都記得
20:06
thrashed慘敗 his car汽車 to teach it a lesson when it wouldn't不會 start開始
327
1181000
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他在《美食夜》—片裡, 將開不動的車子砸了
20:09
on gourmet美食 night. (Laughter笑聲)
328
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為要給它一個教訓 ! (哄笑)
20:13
The reason原因 we personify使人格化 things like cars汽車 and computers電腦
329
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我們之所以將車和電腦等物件擬人化
20:16
is that just as monkeys猴子 live生活 in an arboreal樹棲 world世界
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就正如猴子活在樹上
20:19
and moles live生活 in an underground地下 world世界
331
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鼴鼠活於地下
20:22
and water striders live生活 in a surface表面 tension-dominated張力主導 flatland平原,
332
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大水黽活在受制於表面張力的一種平面 (指水面)
20:26
we live生活 in a social社會 world世界. We swim游泳 through通過 a sea of people --
333
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我們則活在社區, 於人海中游過 -
20:30
a social社會 version of Middle中間 World世界.
334
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一種群居模式的中間世界
20:34
We are evolved進化 to second-guess第二猜測 the behavior行為 of others其他
335
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因著總要猜度其它人的行為表現
20:37
by becoming變得 brilliant輝煌, intuitive直觀的 psychologists心理學家.
336
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我們都演化成精明而深具具覺的心理專家。
20:41
Treating治療 people as machines
337
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將人看作機械
20:43
may可能 be scientifically科學 and philosophically哲學 accurate準確,
338
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或許於科學及哲理而言俱屬正確,
20:47
but it's a cumbersome笨重 waste浪費 of time
339
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但這將讓要推想人家下一步將幹啥的事兒
20:48
if you want to guess猜測 what this person is going to do next下一個.
340
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變得費時之極.
20:52
The economically經濟 useful有用 way to model模型 a person
341
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要將一個人扼要定位
20:55
is to treat對待 him as a purposeful有目的的, goal-seeking目標搜尋 agent代理人
342
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是視之為一個具目的, 有所求,
20:58
with pleasures樂趣 and pains辛勞, desires慾望 and intentions意圖,
343
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有喜有悲, 有想望,
21:01
guilt有罪, blame-worthiness怪,老有所為.
344
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罪疚, 可責性,
21:03
Personification擬人 and the imputing插補 of intentional故意的 purpose目的
345
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人格化及歸因於有意圖
21:08
is such這樣 a brilliantly出色 successful成功 way to model模型 humans人類,
346
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是描模人類的妙法,
21:11
it's hardly幾乎不 surprising奇怪 the same相同 modeling造型 software軟件
347
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難怪同一個想像方式
21:14
often經常 seizes抓住 control控制 when we're trying to think about entities實體
348
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經常於我們設想不相容實體
21:18
for which哪一個 it's not appropriate適當, like Basil羅勒 Fawlty寶泉 with his car汽車
349
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如 [巴素和他的車] 時就作主導了
21:21
or like millions百萬 of deluded迷惑 people with the universe宇宙 as a whole整個. (Laughter笑聲)
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[千百萬惑民相對於這宇宙] 亦如是. (哄笑)
21:29
If the universe宇宙 is queererqueerer than we can suppose假設,
351
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若宇宙真的是比我們能想像的更離奇詭異,
21:32
is it just because we've我們已經 been naturally自然 selected to suppose假設
352
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那只是因為我們是經由物競天擇所變成
21:35
only what we needed需要 to suppose假設 in order訂購 to survive生存
353
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只利便我們於「更新世時期」 的非洲存活
21:38
in the Pleistocene更新世 of Africa非洲?
354
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的需要作想像?
21:41
Or are our brains大腦 so versatile多才多藝 and expandable擴張 that we can
355
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4000
還是我們的腦袋實在太靈太活以至我們可
21:45
train培養 ourselves我們自己 to break打破 out of the box of our evolution演化?
356
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可訓練自己突破演化的框框?
21:50
Or, finally最後, are there some things in the universe宇宙 so queer同性戀者
357
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又或, 最後, 宇宙中可有些甚麼是離奇到
21:54
that no philosophy哲學 of beings眾生, however然而 godlike上帝喜歡, could dream夢想 them?
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任何人, 無論多神, 其思想亦無從想像?
22:01
Thank you very much.
359
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謝謝各位。
Translated by James Wong
Reviewed by Geoff Chen

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Richard Dawkins - Evolutionary biologist
Oxford professor Richard Dawkins has helped steer evolutionary science into the 21st century, and his concept of the "meme" contextualized the spread of ideas in the information age. In recent years, his devastating critique of religion has made him a leading figure in the New Atheism.

Why you should listen

As an evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins has broadened our understanding of the genetic origin of our species; as a popular author, he has helped lay readers understand complex scientific concepts. He's best-known for the ideas laid out in his landmark book The Selfish Gene and fleshed out in The Extended Phenotype: the rather radical notion that Darwinian selection happens not at the level of the individual, but at the level of our DNA. The implication: We evolved for only one purpose — to serve our genes.

Of perhaps equal importance is Dawkins' concept of the meme, which he defines as a self-replicating unit of culture -- an idea, a chain letter, a catchy tune, an urban legend -- which is passed person-to-person, its longevity based on its ability to lodge in the brain and inspire transmission to others. Introduced in The Selfish Gene in 1976, the concept of memes has itself proven highly contagious, inspiring countless accounts and explanations of idea propagation in the information age.

In recent years, Dawkins has become outspoken in his atheism, coining the word "bright" (as an alternate to atheist), and encouraging fellow non-believers to stand up and be identified. His controversial, confrontational 2002 TED talk was a seminal moment for the New Atheism, as was the publication of his 2006 book, The God Delusion, a bestselling critique of religion that championed atheism and promoted scientific principles over creationism and intelligent design.

More profile about the speaker
Richard Dawkins | Speaker | TED.com