TED2017
Robert Sapolsky: The biology of our best and worst selves
罗伯特·萨波尔斯基: 生物学解释我们最好和最坏的自己
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人类如何如此富有同情和利他主义——却也如此野蛮和暴戾？为了理解我们的行为，神经科学家罗伯特·萨波尔斯基探索了极端情况，对动作发生之前的数秒到数百万年时间进行审视。 在这个引人入胜的演讲中，他分享了对驱使我们做出最坏和最好行为的生物科学的前沿研究。
Robert Sapolsky - Neuroscientist, primatologist, writer
Robert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans). Full bio
Robert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans). Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Chris Anderson: So Robert
spent the last few years
spent the last few years
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克里斯·安德森（CA）：
罗伯特最近几年
罗伯特最近几年
在探索人类的行为到底有多奇怪，
00:15
think about how weird human behavior is,
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以及我们大多数语言
所尝试的解释有多么的不足。
所尝试的解释有多么的不足。
00:17
and how inadequate most
of our language trying to explain it is.
of our language trying to explain it is.
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能听他第一次在公开场合
解释一些其后的观点
解释一些其后的观点
00:22
And it's very exciting to hear him
explain some of the thinking behind it
explain some of the thinking behind it
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是非常令人兴奋的。
00:26
in public for the first time.
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现在有请，罗伯特·萨波尔斯基。
00:28
Over to you now, Robert Sapolsky.
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（掌声）
00:30
(Applause)
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00:35
Robert Sapolsky: Thank you.
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RS：谢谢。
心理幻想通常是这样的：
00:36
The fantasy always runs
something like this.
something like this.
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00:39
I've overpowered his elite guard,
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我已经用我的枪
制服了他的精英部队
00:42
burst into his secret bunker
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攻入了他的堡垒
00:44
with my machine gun ready.
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他抓起鲁格手枪，
00:45
He lunges for his Luger.
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我打掉他的手枪，
00:47
I knock it out of his hand.
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他拿起氰化物毒丸，
00:49
He lunges for his cyanide pill.
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我又把它们打掉。
00:52
I knock that out of his hand.
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他咆哮着，
00:53
He snarls,
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用吃奶的力气向我冲过来。
00:55
comes at me with otherworldly strength.
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我们扭打，我们厮杀，
00:57
We grapple, we fight,
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我终于把他撂倒，
00:59
I manage to pin him down
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给他戴上手铐。
01:01
and put on handcuffs.
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01:03
"Adolf Hitler," I say,
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“阿道夫·希特勒，”我说，
“我以反人类罪逮捕你。”
01:05
"I arrest you for crimes
against humanity."
against humanity."
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01:10
Here's where the Medal of Honor
version of the fantasy ends
version of the fantasy ends
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荣誉勋章版本的幻想就此处结束，
你也缓过神来了。
01:13
and the imagery darkens.
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如果我真的抓到了希特勒，
我会怎么做？
我会怎么做？
01:14
What would I do if I had Hitler?
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一旦我允许自己开始想象
就很难停下来，
就很难停下来，
01:17
It's not hard to imagine
once I allow myself.
once I allow myself.
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拧断他的脖子、
01:20
Sever his spine at the neck.
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用钝刀挖出他的眼睛、
01:22
Take out his eyes with a blunt instrument.
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刺穿他的耳膜、切掉他的舌头
01:25
Puncture his eardrums. Cut out his tongue.
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让他靠呼吸器和导管活着，
01:28
Leave him alive on a respirator,
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01:30
tube-fed, not able to speak
or move or see or hear, just to feel,
or move or see or hear, just to feel,
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不能说话不能动，
看不见也听不见，就这么活着，
看不见也听不见，就这么活着，
然后给他注射致癌物，
01:35
and then inject him
with something cancerous
with something cancerous
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让他溃烂化脓，
01:38
that's going to fester and pustulate
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直到他身体的每一个细胞
都在极度痛苦中尖叫，
都在极度痛苦中尖叫，
01:41
until every cell in his body
is screaming in agony,
is screaming in agony,
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直到每一秒都像活在地狱中一样。
01:45
until every second
feels like an eternity in hell.
feels like an eternity in hell.
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01:49
That's what I would do to Hitler.
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那就是我会对希特勒做的。
01:53
I've had this fantasy since I was a kid,
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我从小时候就开始有这个幻想，
现在也偶尔有，
01:55
still do sometimes,
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当我这样想时，我的心跳加快——
01:57
and when I do, my heart speeds up --
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所有这一切都是为了除掉这个
千古罪人
千古罪人
02:00
all these plans for the most evil,
wicked soul in history.
wicked soul in history.
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02:05
But there's a problem,
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但是有一个问题，
我实际上并不相信灵魂或魔鬼，
02:07
which is I don't actually believe
in souls or evil,
in souls or evil,
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我觉得那些坏蛋只是音乐剧里的形象
02:10
and I think wicked belongs in a musical.
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有时候我想亲眼看到某些人死去
02:12
But there's some people
I would like to see killed,
I would like to see killed,
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但我又反对死刑。
02:15
but I'm against the death penalty.
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我喜欢蹩脚的暴力电影，
02:16
But I like schlocky violent movies,
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但我又支持严格控枪。
02:19
but I'm for strict gun control.
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然后有一次我去玩激光枪，
02:20
But then there was a time
I was at a laser tag place,
I was at a laser tag place,
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躲在角落里射击别人
我觉得好过瘾。
我觉得好过瘾。
02:23
and I had such a good time
hiding in a corner shooting at people.
hiding in a corner shooting at people.
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换句话说，当涉及暴力时，
我的人格基本就混乱了
我的人格基本就混乱了
02:28
In other words, I'm your basic
confused human when it comes to violence.
confused human when it comes to violence.
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作为人类这样一个物种，
我们显然有暴力的问题。
我们显然有暴力的问题。
02:33
Now, as a species, we obviously
have problems with violence.
have problems with violence.
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我们用淋浴头输送毒气，
02:37
We use shower heads to deliver poison gas,
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让信件里夹带炭疽，
把飞机当作武器，
把飞机当作武器，
02:40
letters with anthrax,
airplanes as weapons,
airplanes as weapons,
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把大规模强奸作为军事战略。
02:43
mass rape as a military strategy.
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我们真是一个可悲的暴力物种。
02:45
We're a miserably violent species.
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但是复杂的是，
02:47
But there's a complication,
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我们讨厌的不是暴力本身，
02:49
which is we don't hate violence,
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我们讨厌的是那些有弊端的暴力。
02:51
we hate the wrong kind.
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如果是正确的暴力，
02:53
And when it's the right kind,
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我们欢呼雀跃，
我们为他们颁发奖牌，
我们为他们颁发奖牌，
02:55
we cheer it on, we hand out medals,
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为他投票，与冠军亲热。
02:57
we vote for, we mate with
our champions of it.
our champions of it.
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所以如果是所谓正确的暴力，
03:00
When it's the right kind of violence,
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我们就赞同它。
03:02
we love it.
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03:04
And there's another complication,
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还有另外一个复杂的情况，
我们除了是可悲的暴力物种之外，
03:06
which is, in addition to us
being this miserably violent species,
being this miserably violent species,
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同时也是极其无私的，
富有同情心的物种。
富有同情心的物种。
03:10
we're also this extraordinarily
altruistic, compassionate one.
altruistic, compassionate one.
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03:15
So how do you make sense
of the biology of our best behaviors,
of the biology of our best behaviors,
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那么，该如何用生物学合理解释
最好的行为、最差的行为以及
两者之间的所有模糊行为？
两者之间的所有模糊行为？
03:18
our worst ones and all of those
ambiguously in between?
ambiguously in between?
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首先，
03:22
Now, for starters,
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理解行为的肌肉运动是最无聊的。
03:24
what's totally boring is understanding
the motoric aspects of the behavior.
the motoric aspects of the behavior.
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你的大脑告诉脊椎，告诉肌肉，
03:28
Your brain tells your spine,
tells your muscles
tells your muscles
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去做这个或那个，
03:31
to do something or other,
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好嘞，动作完成。
03:32
and hooray, you've behaved.
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难点在于，理解行为的意义，
03:34
What's hard is understanding
the meaning of the behavior,
the meaning of the behavior,
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因为在某些场景中，
扣扳机是令人作呕的动作；
扣扳机是令人作呕的动作；
03:38
because in some settings,
pulling a trigger is an appalling act;
pulling a trigger is an appalling act;
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而在另一些场合中，
它就代表英勇地自我牺牲。
它就代表英勇地自我牺牲。
03:42
in others, it's heroically
self-sacrificial.
self-sacrificial.
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在某些情况下，把你的手放在别人身上
03:45
In some settings, putting your hand
one someone else's
one someone else's
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是深深的同情。
03:48
is deeply compassionate.
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在另一些情况中，
却是一个深刻的背叛。
却是一个深刻的背叛。
03:49
In others, it's a deep betrayal.
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难点就在于要理解
03:51
The challenge is to understand
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我们行为背后的生物学，
03:53
the biology of the context
of our behaviors,
of our behaviors,
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这才是真正的难的地方。
03:56
and that's real tough.
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03:59
One thing that's clear, though,
is you're not going to get anywhere
is you're not going to get anywhere
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不过，有一点很清楚，
如果你认为某个大脑区域、某种激素、
04:02
if you think there's going to be
the brain region or the hormone
the brain region or the hormone
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某个基因、特定童年经历
或某个进化机制就能解释一切的话，
或某个进化机制就能解释一切的话，
04:06
or the gene or the childhood experience
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04:09
or the evolutionary mechanism
that explains everything.
that explains everything.
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你不会弄明白这些行为的。
相反，每个小小的行为都有
多层次的因果关系。
多层次的因果关系。
04:13
Instead, every bit of behavior
has multiple levels of causality.
has multiple levels of causality.
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我们来看一个例子。
04:18
Let's look at an example.
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你手里有枪，
04:20
You have a gun.
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当前正发生危险
04:22
There's a crisis going on:
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动乱，暴力，人们到处跑。
04:24
rioting, violence, people running around.
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一个陌生人向你跑来，
情绪激动——
情绪激动——
04:26
A stranger is running at you
in an agitated state --
in an agitated state --
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你说不清楚那表情是
害怕、还是威胁、还是愤怒——
害怕、还是威胁、还是愤怒——
04:30
you can't quite tell if the expression
is frightened, threatening, angry --
is frightened, threatening, angry --
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反正那人手里拿着的好象是手枪
04:35
holding something
that kind of looks like a handgun.
that kind of looks like a handgun.
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你还不能确定。
04:38
You're not sure.
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你一看那人冲你跑了过来
04:39
The stranger comes running at you
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你就扣了扳机。
04:41
and you pull the trigger.
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最后却发现，这个人的手里
04:43
And it turns out
that thing in this person's hand
that thing in this person's hand
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是一部手机。
04:46
was a cell phone.
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04:48
So we asked this biological question:
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所以我问一个生物学问题：
这一连串的行为发生时
你身体里的究竟发生了什么？
你身体里的究竟发生了什么？
04:50
what was going on
that caused this behavior?
that caused this behavior?
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是什么导致了这种行为？
04:53
What caused this behavior?
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这其实是一个复杂的问题。
04:55
And this is a multitude of questions.
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我们开始。
04:57
We start.
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在拉动扳机的前一秒钟，
你的大脑里发生了什么？
你的大脑里发生了什么？
04:59
What was going on in your brain
one second before you pulled that trigger?
one second before you pulled that trigger?
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这就要说到
被称为杏仁核的大脑区域。
被称为杏仁核的大脑区域。
05:03
And this brings us into the realm
of a brain region called the amygdala.
of a brain region called the amygdala.
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杏仁核是产生暴力恐惧的控制中心，
05:07
The amygdala, which is
central to violence, central to fear,
central to violence, central to fear,
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它启动一系列反应
05:11
initiates volleys of cascades
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从而产生了扣扳机的动作。
05:13
that produce pulling of a trigger.
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那么扣扳机前一秒
杏仁核的活动级别是多少？
杏仁核的活动级别是多少？
05:16
What was the level of activity
in your amygdala one second before?
in your amygdala one second before?
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05:20
But to understand that,
we have to step back a little bit.
we have to step back a little bit.
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但如果要理解它，
我们又必须再讲点别的
我们又必须再讲点别的
数秒至数分钟之前，
周围的环境里发生了什么
周围的环境里发生了什么
05:24
What was going on in the environment
seconds to minutes before
seconds to minutes before
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影响了杏仁核？
05:27
that impacted the amygdala?
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显然，暴乱的景象、声音
05:29
Now, obviously, the sights,
the sounds of the rioting,
the sounds of the rioting,
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都是与之有关系。
05:32
that was pertinent.
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但除此之外，
05:34
But in addition,
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如果这个陌生人是男性，
而且身材高大
而且身材高大
05:35
you're more likely to mistake
a cell phone for a handgun
a cell phone for a handgun
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和你还不是一个种族的
05:38
if that stranger was male
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那你把手机误认成手枪的几率
就会更大。
就会更大。
05:41
and large and of a different race.
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此外，如果你正疼痛，
05:44
Furthermore, if you're in pain,
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饥饿，疲惫不堪，
05:46
if you're hungry, if you're exhausted,
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你的前额叶皮质也会停止工作。
05:48
your frontal cortex
is not going to work as well,
is not going to work as well,
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前额叶皮质是大脑的一部分，
05:51
part of the brain whose job it is
to get to the amygdala in time
to get to the amygdala in time
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它的作用是及时联系杏仁核并问：
“你真的确定那是枪吗？”
“你真的确定那是枪吗？”
05:54
saying, "Are you really sure
that's a gun there?"
that's a gun there?"
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现在我们往这之前看
05:58
But we need to step further back.
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看看几天前或几小时前发生了什么
06:00
Now we have to look
at hours to days before,
at hours to days before,
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这样我们说到激素了。
06:04
and with this, we have entered
the realm of hormones.
the realm of hormones.
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例如，睾酮，
06:07
For example, testosterone,
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无论你是什么性别，
06:09
where regardless of your sex,
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如果你血液中的睾酮水平高，
06:11
if you have elevated
testosterone levels in your blood,
testosterone levels in your blood,
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那么你更有可能
把一张表情中性的面孔
把一张表情中性的面孔
06:13
you're more likely to think
a face with a neutral expression
a face with a neutral expression
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当成有威胁性的。
06:17
is instead looking threatening.
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当睾酮水平升高、
应激激素水平升高，
应激激素水平升高，
06:19
Elevated testosterone levels,
elevated levels of stress hormones,
elevated levels of stress hormones,
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杏仁核会更加活跃，
06:23
and your amygdala
is going to be more active
is going to be more active
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前额叶皮质则会更迟钝。
06:25
and your frontal cortex
will be more sluggish.
will be more sluggish.
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06:29
Pushing back further,
weeks to months before,
weeks to months before,
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退回到数周至数月之前，
那时候与现在有什么联系呢?
06:32
where's the relevance there?
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这就要说到神经可塑性领域了，
06:33
This is the realm of neural plasticity,
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大脑会根据于经历的变化而改变，
06:36
the fact that your brain
can change in response to experience,
can change in response to experience,
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如果你之前几个月的生活
充满压力和创伤，
充满压力和创伤，
06:40
and if your previous months
have been filled with stress and trauma,
have been filled with stress and trauma,
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你的杏仁核就会扩大。
06:44
your amygdala will have enlarged.
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神经元会变得更加容易兴奋，
06:46
The neurons will have become
more excitable,
more excitable,
142
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前额叶皮质也就会萎缩了，
06:48
your frontal cortex would have atrophied,
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这些都与那一秒钟内
发生的事情相关。
发生的事情相关。
06:50
all relevant to what happens
in that one second.
in that one second.
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06:54
But we push back even more, back years,
145
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但是，我们再多往前看几年的话
例如，回到你的青春期。
06:57
back, for example, to your adolescence.
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青春期大脑的各部分功能
06:59
Now, the central fact
of the adolescent brain
of the adolescent brain
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都十分的活跃
07:02
is all of it is going full blast
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2736
除了前额叶皮质，
07:04
except the frontal cortex,
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前额叶皮质还是半成熟。
07:06
which is still half-baked.
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它到25岁左右才能完全成熟。
07:08
It doesn't fully mature
until you're around 25.
until you're around 25.
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因此，青春期和成年早期这样的关键阶段
07:11
And thus, adolescence and early adulthood
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塑造并决定了
07:14
are the years where environment
and experience sculpt your frontal cortex
and experience sculpt your frontal cortex
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你将来拥有什么样的前额叶皮质。
07:19
into the version you're going to have
as an adult in that critical moment.
as an adult in that critical moment.
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07:24
But pushing back even further,
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但再退一步想想，
甚至可以退到童年和胎儿时期，
07:26
even further back
to childhood and fetal life
to childhood and fetal life
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以及可能会导致的各种情况。
07:30
and all the different versions
that that could come in.
that that could come in.
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显然，那是大脑的逐渐成熟的阶段，
07:32
Now, obviously, that's the time
that your brain is being constructed,
that your brain is being constructed,
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是很重要的阶段，
07:36
and that's important,
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但另外，那些时期的经历
07:37
but in addition,
experience during those times
experience during those times
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产生所谓的表观遗传变化，
07:40
produce what are called
epigenetic changes,
epigenetic changes,
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某些情况下是永久的变化，
07:43
permanent, in some cases,
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永久地激活某些基因，
关闭另一些基因。
关闭另一些基因。
07:45
permanently activating
certain genes, turning off others.
certain genes, turning off others.
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比如说
07:49
And as an example of this,
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如果胎儿时期通过母亲
接触了许多压力激素，
接触了许多压力激素，
07:51
if as a fetus you were exposed to a lot
of stress hormones through your mother,
of stress hormones through your mother,
165
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表观遗传会使成年时期的杏仁核
07:56
epigenetics is going to produce
your amygdala in adulthood
your amygdala in adulthood
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塑造成更容易兴奋的形式，
07:59
as a more excitable form,
167
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1936
你的应激激素水平会比较高。
08:01
and you're going to have
elevated stress hormone levels.
elevated stress hormone levels.
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2640
08:04
But pushing even further back,
169
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1896
但是远一点讲，
当你只是一个胎儿，
08:06
back to when you were just a fetus,
170
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只是一堆基因的阶段。
08:08
back to when all you were
was a collection of genes.
was a collection of genes.
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基因对于所有这些都是非常重要的，
08:11
Now, genes are really
important to all of this,
important to all of this,
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2376
但是，基因不能确定任何东西，
08:13
but critically, genes don't
determine anything,
determine anything,
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2736
因为基因在不同的环境中工作方式不同。
08:16
because genes work differently
in different environments.
in different environments.
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一个重要的例子：
08:20
Key example here:
175
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1256
有一个称为MAO-α的基因变体，
08:21
there's a variant of a gene called MAO-A,
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3136
如果你有这种变体，
08:25
and if you have that variant,
177
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1656
08:26
you are far more likely
to commit antisocial violence
to commit antisocial violence
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并且在小时候受到虐待
那么你极有可能做出
反社会的暴力行为。
反社会的暴力行为。
08:31
if, and only if,
you were abused as a child.
you were abused as a child.
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3976
基因和环境相互作用，
08:35
Genes and environment interact,
180
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在扣扳机的前一秒钟内发生的事
08:37
and what's happening in that one second
before you pull that trigger
before you pull that trigger
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3616
反映了你基因与环境
一直以来的相互作用。
一直以来的相互作用。
08:41
reflects your lifetime
of those gene-environment interactions.
of those gene-environment interactions.
182
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4240
08:46
Now, remarkably enough,
we've got to push even further back now,
we've got to push even further back now,
183
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3617
现在，我们再往前退
退回到几个世纪前。
08:50
back centuries.
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1376
看看你的祖先经历了什么。
08:51
What were your ancestors up to.
185
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2336
如果他们是游牧民族，
08:54
And if, for example,
they were nomadic pastoralists,
they were nomadic pastoralists,
186
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3176
他们是牧民，
08:57
they were pastoralists,
187
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1256
生活在沙漠或草原上，
08:58
people living in deserts or grasslands
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有骆驼、牛群、羊群，
09:01
with their herds of camels, cows, goats,
189
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2656
他们很可能会创造出所谓的
荣誉文化，
荣誉文化，
09:03
odds are they would have invented
what's called a culture of honor
what's called a culture of honor
190
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充满战士阶层、
09:07
filled with warrior classes,
191
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2216
报复性暴力、氏族纷争，
09:10
retributive violence, clan vendettas,
192
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2696
令人惊讶的是，几个世纪以后，
09:12
and amazingly, centuries later,
193
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这仍影响着你成长的价值观。
09:15
that would still be influencing
the values with which you were raised.
the values with which you were raised.
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3680
我们再往前说
09:19
But we've got to push even further back,
195
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2136
回到数百万年前，
09:21
back millions of years,
196
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1736
因为如果我们要讨论基因，
09:23
because if we're talking about genes,
197
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2056
显然我们要谈谈基因的演变情况。
09:25
implicitly we're now talking
about the evolution of genes.
about the evolution of genes.
198
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3656
而你所看到的就是，例如，
09:29
And what you see is, for example,
199
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2216
不同灵长类动物的生存模式。
09:31
patterns across different primate species.
200
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有些进化成的侵略性非常低，
09:34
Some of them have evolved
for extremely low levels of aggression,
for extremely low levels of aggression,
201
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4416
另一些则相反，
09:38
others have evolved
in the opposite direction,
in the opposite direction,
202
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2536
而处于两者之间的就是人类，
09:41
and floating there in between
by every measure are humans,
by every measure are humans,
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3896
所以这种混乱的、几乎无法定义的物种
09:45
once again this confused,
barely defined species
barely defined species
204
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3896
有潜力向任何一个方向发展。
09:49
that has all these potentials
to go one way or the other.
to go one way or the other.
205
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3240
09:53
So what has this gotten us to?
206
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1816
那这对我们的影响是什么呢？
基本到目前为止我们都明白的了
09:55
Basically, what we're seeing here is,
207
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1976
如果你想了解一个行为，
09:57
if you want to understand a behavior,
208
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1896
无论是一个可怕的行为、
奇妙的行为、
奇妙的行为、
09:59
whether it's an appalling one,
a wondrous one,
a wondrous one,
209
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2856
还是两者之间的行为，
10:02
or confusedly in between,
210
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1736
只要你想要理解这样的行为
10:03
if you want to understand that,
211
591960
1536
就必须考虑这个行为前一秒到
10:05
you've got take into account
what happened a second before
what happened a second before
212
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3456
前一百万年，
10:09
to a million years before,
213
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1456
以及这中间发生的一切。
10:10
everything in between.
214
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1656
那么我们现在可以得出什么结论呢？
10:12
So what can we conclude at this point?
215
600160
1976
正式的说：这很复杂。
10:14
Officially, it's complicated.
216
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2296
嗯，这句话确实很有用。
10:16
Wow, that's really helpful.
217
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1616
这很复杂，
10:18
It's complicated,
218
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1256
在你断定是什么导致一个行为之前，
10:19
and you'd better be
real careful, real cautious
real careful, real cautious
219
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3576
你最好小心再小心
10:23
before you conclude
you know what causes a behavior,
you know what causes a behavior,
220
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3336
特别是一个你要严肃判决的行为。
10:26
especially if it's a behavior
you're judging harshly.
you're judging harshly.
221
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2760
10:30
Now, to me, the single most important
point about all of this
point about all of this
222
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对我来说，所有这一切最重要的一点
就是改变。
10:34
is one having to do with change.
223
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2376
我在这提到的有关于生物学的每一点，
其实都可以在不同情况下改变。
其实都可以在不同情况下改变。
10:37
Every bit of biology I have mentioned here
can change in different circumstances.
can change in different circumstances.
224
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6376
例如，生态系统会变。
10:43
For example, ecosystems change.
225
631400
2816
数千年前，撒哈拉沙漠是一片绿洲。
10:46
Thousands of years ago,
the Sahara was a lush grassland.
the Sahara was a lush grassland.
226
634240
4416
文化会变。
10:50
Cultures change.
227
638680
1616
17世纪，欧洲最可怕的人是瑞典人，
10:52
In the 17th century, the most terrifying
people in Europe were the Swedes,
people in Europe were the Swedes,
228
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4336
到处行凶。
10:56
rampaging all over the place.
229
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1736
而瑞典军队现在是这样的。
10:58
This is what the Swedish
military does now.
military does now.
230
646440
2176
他们已经200年没有战争了。
11:00
They haven't had a war in 200 years.
231
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1840
11:03
Most importantly,
232
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1456
最重要的是，
大脑会变。
11:04
brains change.
233
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1616
神经元有新的进程。
11:06
Neurons grow new processes.
234
654400
2016
回路会断开，
11:08
Circuits disconnect.
235
656440
1456
大脑中的一切都会发生变化，
11:09
Everything in the brain changes,
236
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1656
所以就会出现人类变化非凡。
11:11
and out of this come extraordinary
examples of human change.
examples of human change.
237
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5200
11:17
First one:
238
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1616
第一个：
这是一位名叫约翰·牛顿的人，
11:19
this is a man named John Newton,
239
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1696
英国神学家，
11:20
a British theologian
240
668760
1336
十九世纪初在
大英帝国废除奴隶制活动中
大英帝国废除奴隶制活动中
11:22
who played a central role in the abolition
of slavery from the British Empire
of slavery from the British Empire
241
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4736
发挥了核心作用。
11:26
in the early 1800s.
242
674880
2016
令人惊讶的是，
这个人年轻时的数十年
这个人年轻时的数十年
11:28
And amazingly, this man
spent decades as a younger man
spent decades as a younger man
243
676920
4736
是奴隶船的船长，
11:33
as the captain of a slave ship,
244
681680
2136
然后是奴隶制的投资人，
11:35
and then as an investor in slavery,
245
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2936
由此发家。
11:38
growing rich from this.
246
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2136
然后事情变了。
11:40
And then something changed.
247
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2656
他发生了变化，
11:43
Something changed in him,
248
691640
1536
牛顿自己在他最著名的成就——
11:45
something that Newton himself celebrated
in the thing that he's most famous for,
in the thing that he's most famous for,
249
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5256
他写的赞美诗《天赐恩宠》
11:50
a hymn that he wrote:
250
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1616
庆祝了这变化。
11:52
"Amazing Grace."
251
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1400
11:55
This is a man named Zenji Abe
on the morning of December 6, 1941,
on the morning of December 6, 1941,
252
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4896
这是安倍善治，
在1941年12月6日早晨，
在1941年12月6日早晨，
他即将带领一个日本轰炸机中队
攻击珍珠港。
攻击珍珠港。
11:59
about to lead a squadron of Japanese
bombers to attack Pearl Harbor.
bombers to attack Pearl Harbor.
253
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4976
这是他50年之后，
12:04
And this is the same man
50 years later to the day
50 years later to the day
254
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3536
拥抱一个从当时的地面袭击中
幸存的男人。
幸存的男人。
12:08
hugging a man who survived
the attack on the ground.
the attack on the ground.
255
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3576
而作为一个老人，
12:12
And as an old man,
256
720120
1416
安倍善治来到珍珠港幸存者集会，
12:13
Zenji Abe came to a collection
of Pearl Harbor survivors
of Pearl Harbor survivors
257
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4416
在那里的仪式中，
12:18
at a ceremony there
258
726000
1416
用断断续续的英语
为自己年轻时的行为道歉。
为自己年轻时的行为道歉。
12:19
and in halting English apologized
for what he had done as a young man.
for what he had done as a young man.
259
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4320
12:24
Now, it doesn't always require decades.
260
732760
1896
当然，并不总是需要几十年那么长。
有时，惊人的变化可能会在
短短几个小时内发生。
短短几个小时内发生。
12:26
Sometimes, extraordinary change
could happen in just hours.
could happen in just hours.
261
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3696
想想1914年的第一次世界大战
圣诞休战。
圣诞休战。
12:30
Consider the World War I
Christmas truce of 1914.
Christmas truce of 1914.
262
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4376
几方达成了短暂停战，
12:34
The powers that be
had negotiated a brief truce
had negotiated a brief truce
263
742800
3136
让士兵们可以出去，
12:37
so that soldiers could go out,
264
745960
1616
从战壕之间的无人区捡回尸体。
12:39
collect bodies from no-man's-land
in between the trench lines.
in between the trench lines.
265
747600
3896
英国和德国的士兵
12:43
And soon British and German soldiers
266
751520
2936
很快就开始去捡尸体，
12:46
were doing that,
267
754480
1456
然后他们帮助对方抬尸体，
12:47
and then helping each other carry bodies,
268
755960
2456
然后帮助对方在冰冻的地面上挖坟坑，
12:50
and then helping each other
dig graves in the frozen ground,
dig graves in the frozen ground,
269
758440
3656
然后一起祷告，
12:54
and then praying together,
270
762120
1256
然后一起过圣诞，交换礼物，
12:55
and then having Christmas together
and exchanging gifts,
and exchanging gifts,
271
763400
2816
第二天，他们一起踢足球，
12:58
and by the next day,
they were playing soccer together
they were playing soccer together
272
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3216
交换地址，以便战后能够相见。
13:01
and exchanging addresses
so they could meet after the war.
so they could meet after the war.
273
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3376
这样的停战一直持续到军官必须到场，
13:04
That truce kept going
until the officers had to arrive
until the officers had to arrive
274
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3976
提出：“如果再不回到战壕，向对方厮杀，
13:08
and said, "We will shoot you
275
776880
1496
13:10
unless you go back
to trying to kill each other."
to trying to kill each other."
276
778400
2496
就向你们开枪。”
总共只用了几个小时，
13:12
And all it took here was hours
277
780920
2136
这些人发展出对“我们”
的全新定义——
的全新定义——
13:15
for these men to develop
a completely new category of "us,"
a completely new category of "us,"
278
783080
4336
双方的战壕里，我们所有人，
13:19
all of us in the trenches here
279
787440
1896
都在没有任何理由地死掉，
13:21
on both sides, dying for no damn reason,
280
789360
2776
还有谁是“他们”——
战线后方的那些无耻的政权，
战线后方的那些无耻的政权，
13:24
and who is a "them,"
those faceless powers behind the lines
those faceless powers behind the lines
281
792160
3656
那些用我们做棋子的人。
13:27
who were using them as pawns.
282
795840
1600
13:30
And sometimes,
change can occur in seconds.
change can occur in seconds.
283
798680
3200
有时，改变可以在几秒钟内发生。
13:34
Probably the most horrifying event
in the Vietnam War
in the Vietnam War
284
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3336
可能在越战中最恐怖的事件
是美莱村屠杀。
13:38
was the My Lai Massacre.
285
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1896
一队美军士兵
13:40
A brigade of American soldiers
286
808000
2016
进入一个没有防御的村庄，全是平民，
13:42
went into an undefended
village full of civilians
village full of civilians
287
810040
3016
杀了350至500平民，
13:45
and killed between 350 and 500 of them,
288
813080
3536
大规模强奸妇女和儿童，
13:48
mass-raped women and children,
289
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2856
分尸
13:51
mutilated bodies.
290
819520
1576
这令人震惊。
13:53
It was appalling.
291
821120
1216
因为发生了这样的事件，政府否认，
13:54
It was appalling because it occurred,
because the government denied it,
because the government denied it,
292
822360
4256
美国政府最终只象征性地略加惩罚，
13:58
because the US government eventually
did nothing more than a slap on the wrist,
did nothing more than a slap on the wrist,
293
826640
4376
这骇人听闻，因为它绝对不是个案。
14:03
and appalling because it almost certainly
was not a singular event.
was not a singular event.
294
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4256
这个人，休斯·汤普森，
这是阻止美莱村屠杀的人。
这是阻止美莱村屠杀的人。
14:07
This man, Hugh Thompson, this is the man
who stopped the My Lai Massacre.
who stopped the My Lai Massacre.
295
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5096
他当时驾驶一架武装直升机，
14:12
He was piloting a helicopter gunship,
296
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2616
降落在那里，走出来，
14:15
landed there, got out
297
843080
1816
看见美军士兵射杀婴儿，
14:16
and saw American soldiers shooting babies,
298
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3056
射杀老妇人，
14:20
shooting old women,
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明白了怎么回事之后
14:21
figured out what was going on,
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他驾驶自己的直升机，
14:23
and he then took his helicopter
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作出了一个举动，
14:25
and did something that undid
his lifetime of conditioning
his lifetime of conditioning
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推翻了他终身训练所得的定义
谁是“我们”，谁是“他们”。
谁是“我们”，谁是“他们”。
14:29
as to who is an "us" and who is a "them."
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他将直升机降落在
14:31
He landed his helicopter
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幸存的村民和美国士兵之间，
14:33
in between some surviving villagers
and American soldiers
and American soldiers
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把机枪对准他的同胞美国人，
14:37
and he trained his machine guns
on his fellow Americans,
on his fellow Americans,
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说出：“如果不停止杀戮，
我就扫了你们。”
我就扫了你们。”
14:40
and said, "If you don't stop the killing,
I will mow you down."
I will mow you down."
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14:46
Now, these people
are no more special than any of us.
are no more special than any of us.
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这些人不比我们任何人特殊。
相同的神经元，相同的神经化学物质，
14:49
Same neurons, same neurochemicals,
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相同的生物系统。
14:52
same biology.
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14:54
What we're left with here
is this inevitable cliche:
is this inevitable cliche:
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我们被教导这样陈词滥调：
“不学习历史的人注定要重复历史。”
14:57
"Those who don't study history
are destined to repeat it."
are destined to repeat it."
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但今天在这里
我们在这里学到的与之相反。
我们在这里学到的与之相反。
15:00
What we have here is the opposite of it.
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那些不学习人类非凡的变化史的人，
15:02
Those who don't study the history
of extraordinary human change,
of extraordinary human change,
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那些不学习让我们转变、
15:07
those who don't study the biology
of what can transform us
of what can transform us
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将我们从最坏行为变成最好行为
的生物科学的人，
的生物科学的人，
15:10
from our worst to our best behaviors,
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那些不学习这些的人，
15:13
those who don't do this
are destined not to be able
are destined not to be able
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注定不能重复这些辉煌灿烂的时刻。
15:16
to repeat these incandescent,
magnificent moments.
magnificent moments.
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谢谢大家。
15:20
So thank you.
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（掌声）
15:22
(Applause)
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15:32
CA: Talks that really give you
a new mental model about something,
a new mental model about something,
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CA：真正带给你新的思维模式的演讲，
是我最喜欢的TED演讲，
15:35
those are some of my favorite TED Talks,
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我们刚听到的就是其中一个。
15:37
and we just got one.
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罗伯特，非常感谢你。祝这本书大卖。
15:39
Robert, thank you so much for that.
Good luck with the book.
Good luck with the book.
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演讲太棒了，
15:42
That was amazing,
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我们将努力找机会请你亲自到这里来。
15:44
and we're going to try and get you
to come here in person one year.
to come here in person one year.
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非常感谢。
15:47
Thank you so much.
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RS：谢谢，谢谢你们。
15:48
RS: Thank you. Thank you all.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Robert Sapolsky - Neuroscientist, primatologist, writerRobert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans).
Why you should listen
We all have some measure of stress, and Robert Sapolsky explores its causes as well as its effects on our bodies (his lab was among the first to document the damage that stress can do to our hippocampus). In his research, he follows a population of wild baboons in Kenya, who experience stress very similarly to the way humans do. By measuring hormone levels and stress-related diseases in each primate, he determines their relative stress, looking for patterns in personality and social behavior that might contribute. These exercises have given Sapolsky amazing insight into all primate social behavior, including our own.
He has been called "one of the best scientist-writers of our time" by Oliver Sacks. Sapolsky has produced, in addition to numerous scientific papers, books for broader audiences, including A Primate’s Memoir: A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: Stress Disease and Coping, and The Trouble with Testosterone.
His latest book, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, examines human behavior in search of an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do?
Robert Sapolsky | Speaker | TED.com