ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Alain de Botton - Philosopher
Through his witty and literate books -- and his new School of Life -- Alain de Botton helps others find fulfillment in the everyday.

Why you should listen

It started in 1997, when Alain de Botton turned away from writing novels and instead wrote a touching extended essay titled How Proust Can Change Your Life, which became an unlikely blockbuster in the "self-help"category. His subsequent books take on some of the fundamental worries of modern life (am I happy? where exactly do I stand?), informed by his deep reading in philosophy and by a novelist's eye for small, perfect moments. His newest book is The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.

In 2008, de Botton helped start the School of Life in London, a social enterprise determined to make learning and therapy relevant in today's uptight culture. His goal is (through any of his mediums) to help clients learn "how to live wisely and well."

More profile about the speaker
Alain de Botton | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2009

Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

阿兰·德波顿:温和的成功哲学

Filmed:
7,971,965 views

阿兰·德波顿检视我们对成功和失败的看法,质疑它们所代表的意义。成功都是配得的吗?失败呢?听他机智地解答我们对成功的迷思,帮助我们摆脱势利,重新寻回对工作的热情。
- Philosopher
Through his witty and literate books -- and his new School of Life -- Alain de Botton helps others find fulfillment in the everyday. Full bio

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

00:12
For me they normally一般 happen发生, these career事业 crises危机,
0
0
3000
我经常对事业感到恐慌,
00:15
often经常, actually其实, on a Sunday星期日 evening晚间,
1
3000
2000
周日下午
00:17
just as the sun太阳 is starting开始 to set,
2
5000
2000
晚霞洒满天空
00:19
and the gap间隙 between之间 my hopes希望 for myself,
3
7000
3000
理想和现实的差距
00:22
and the reality现实 of my life, start开始 to diverge偏离 so painfully痛苦
4
10000
4000
是这样残酷
00:26
that I normally一般 end结束 up weeping into a pillow枕头.
5
14000
3000
令我沮丧的只想抱头痛哭
00:29
I'm mentioning all this,
6
17000
2000
我提出这件事是因为
00:31
I'm mentioning all this because I think this is not merely仅仅 a personal个人 problem问题.
7
19000
3000
我认为不只有我这么感觉。
00:34
You may可能 think I'm wrong错误 in this,
8
22000
2000
你可能不这么认为
00:36
but I think that we live生活 in an age年龄 when our lives生活 are regularly经常
9
24000
2000
但我感觉我们活在一个充满
00:38
punctuated打断 by career事业 crises危机,
10
26000
2000
事业恐慌的时代
00:40
by moments瞬间 when what we thought we knew知道,
11
28000
2000
就在我们认为我们已经理解
00:42
about our lives生活, about our careers职业生涯,
12
30000
2000
我们的人生和事业时
00:44
comes into contact联系 with a threatening危险的 sort分类 of reality现实.
13
32000
4000
真实便来恐吓我们
00:48
It's perhaps也许 easier更轻松 now than ever before to make a good living活的.
14
36000
3000
现在或许比以前更容易过上好生活
00:51
It's perhaps也许 harder更难 than ever before
15
39000
3000
但却比以前更难保持冷静
00:54
to stay calm冷静, to be free自由 of career事业 anxiety焦虑.
16
42000
3000
或不为事业感到焦虑
00:57
I want to look now, if I may可能,
17
45000
2000
今天我想要检视
00:59
at some of the reasons原因 why
18
47000
2000
我们对事业感到焦虑
01:01
we might威力 be feeling感觉 anxiety焦虑 about our careers职业生涯.
19
49000
3000
的一些原因
01:04
Why we might威力 be victims受害者 of these career事业 crises危机,
20
52000
2000
为何我们会变成事业焦虑的囚徒
01:06
as we're weeping softly轻轻的 into our pillows枕头.
21
54000
4000
不时抱头痛哭
01:10
One of the reasons原因 why we might威力 be suffering痛苦
22
58000
3000
折磨人的因素之一是
01:13
is that we are surrounded包围 by snobs势利.
23
61000
2000
我们身边的那些势利鬼
01:15
In a way, I've got some bad news新闻,
24
63000
3000
对那些来访牛津大学的外国友人
01:18
particularly尤其 to anybody任何人 who's谁是 come to Oxford牛津 from abroad国外.
25
66000
3000
我有一个坏消息
01:21
There is a real真实 problem问题 with snobbery势利.
26
69000
2000
这里的人都很势利
01:23
Because sometimes有时 people from outside the U.K.
27
71000
2000
有时候英国以外的人会想象
01:25
imagine想像 that snobbery势利 is a distinctively独特 U.K. phenomenon现象
28
73000
2000
势利是英国人特有的个性
01:27
fixated迷恋 on country国家 houses房屋 and titles标题.
29
75000
3000
来自那些乡间别墅和头衔爵位
01:30
The bad news新闻 is that's not true真正.
30
78000
2000
坏消息是,并不只是这样
01:32
Snobbery势利眼 is a global全球 phenomenon现象.
31
80000
2000
势利是一个全球性的问题
01:34
We are a global全球 organization组织. This is a global全球 phenomenon现象.
32
82000
2000
我们是个全球性的组织,这是个全球性的问题
01:36
It exists存在. What is a snob势利?
33
84000
2000
它确实存在。势利是什么?
01:38
A snob势利 is anybody任何人 who takes a small part部分 of you
34
86000
3000
势利是以一小部分的你
01:41
and uses使用 that to come to a complete完成 vision视力 of who you are.
35
89000
3000
来判别你的全部价值
01:44
That is snobbery势利.
36
92000
2000
那就是势利。
01:46
The dominant优势 kind of snobbery势利
37
94000
2000
今日最主要的势利
01:48
that exists存在 nowadays如今 is job工作 snobbery势利.
38
96000
2000
就是对职业的势利
01:50
You encounter遭遇 it within minutes分钟 at a party派对,
39
98000
2000
你在派对中不用一分钟就能体会到
01:52
when you get asked that famous著名 iconic标志性的 question
40
100000
3000
当你被问到这个21世纪初
01:55
of the early 21stST century世纪, "What do you do?"
41
103000
3000
最有代表性的问题:你是做什么的?
01:58
And according根据 to how you answer回答 that question,
42
106000
2000
你的答案将会决定对方接下来的反应
02:00
people are either incredibly令人难以置信 delighted欣喜的 to see you,
43
108000
2000
对方可能对你在场感到荣幸
02:02
or look at their watch and make their excuses借口.
44
110000
2000
或是开始看表然后想个借口离开
02:04
(Laughter笑声)
45
112000
1000
(笑声)
02:05
Now, the opposite对面 of a snob势利 is your mother母亲.
46
113000
3000
势利鬼的相反,是你的母亲
02:08
(Laughter笑声)
47
116000
2000
(笑声)
02:10
Not necessarily一定 your mother母亲, or indeed确实 mine,
48
118000
3000
不一定是你我的母亲
02:13
but, as it were, the ideal理想 mother母亲,
49
121000
2000
而是一个理想母亲的想象
02:15
somebody who doesn't care关心 about your achievements成就.
50
123000
2000
一个永远义无反顾的爱你,不在乎你是否功成名就的人
02:17
But unfortunately不幸, most people are not our mothers母亲.
51
125000
2000
不幸地,大部分世人都不怀有这种母爱
02:19
Most people make a strict严格 correlation相关 between之间 how much time,
52
127000
3000
大部分世人决定要花费多少时间
02:22
and if you like, love -- not romantic浪漫 love,
53
130000
2000
给于多少爱,不一定是浪漫的那种爱
02:24
though虽然 that may可能 be something --
54
132000
2000
虽然那也包括在内
02:26
but love in general一般, respect尊重,
55
134000
2000
世人所愿意给我们的关爱、尊重
02:28
they are willing愿意 to accord符合 us, that will be strictly严格 defined定义
56
136000
3000
取决于
02:31
by our position位置 in the social社会 hierarchy等级制度.
57
139000
2000
我们的社会地位
02:33
And that's a lot of the reason原因 why we care关心 so much about our careers职业生涯
58
141000
3000
这就是为什么我们如此在乎事业和成就
02:36
and indeed确实 start开始 caring爱心 so much about material材料 goods产品.
59
144000
4000
以及看重金钱和物质的原因
02:40
You know, we're often经常 told that we live生活 in very materialistic唯物主义的 times,
60
148000
3000
我们时常被告知我们处在一个物质挂帅的时代
02:43
that we're all greedy贪婪 people.
61
151000
2000
我们都是贪婪的人
02:45
I don't think we are particularly尤其 materialistic唯物主义的.
62
153000
2000
我并不认为我们特别看重物质
02:47
I think we live生活 in a society社会
63
155000
2000
而是活在一个
02:49
which哪一个 has simply只是 pegged钉住 certain某些 emotional情绪化 rewards奖励
64
157000
2000
物质能带来大量情感反馈
02:51
to the acquisition获得 of material材料 goods产品.
65
159000
3000
的时代
02:54
It's not the material材料 goods产品 we want. It's the rewards奖励 we want.
66
162000
3000
我们想要的不是物质,而是背后的情感反馈
02:57
And that's a new way of looking at luxury豪华 goods产品.
67
165000
2000
这赋予奢侈品一个崭新的意义
02:59
The next下一个 time you see somebody driving主动 a Ferrari法拉利
68
167000
2000
下次你看到那些开着法拉利跑车的人
03:01
don't think, "This is somebody who is greedy贪婪."
69
169000
2000
你不要想“这个人很贪婪”
03:03
Think, "This is somebody who is incredibly令人难以置信 vulnerable弱势 and in need of love."
70
171000
3000
而是“这是一个无比脆弱、急需爱的人”
03:06
In other words -- (Laughter笑声)
71
174000
5000
也就是说 - (笑声)
03:11
feel sympathy同情, rather than contempt鄙视.
72
179000
2000
同情他们,不要鄙视他们
03:13
There are other reasons原因 --
73
181000
2000
还有一些其他的
03:15
(Laughter笑声)
74
183000
1000
(笑声)
03:16
there are other reasons原因 why it's perhaps也许 harder更难 now
75
184000
2000
还有一些其他理由,让我们比过去
03:18
to feel calm冷静 than ever before.
76
186000
2000
更难获得平静
03:20
One of these, and it's paradoxical自相矛盾 because it's linked关联 to something that's rather nice不错,
77
188000
3000
这有些矛盾因为拥有自己的事业
03:23
is the hope希望 we all have for our careers职业生涯.
78
191000
3000
是一件不错的事
03:26
Never before have expectations期望 been so high
79
194000
2000
但同时 人们也从未对自己的短暂一生
03:28
about what human人的 beings众生 can achieve实现 with their lifespan寿命.
80
196000
3000
有过这么高的期待
03:31
We're told, from many许多 sources来源, that anyone任何人 can achieve实现 anything.
81
199000
3000
这个世界用许多方法告诉我们 我们无所不能
03:34
We've我们已经 doneDONE away with the caste种姓 system系统.
82
202000
2000
我们不再受限于阶级
03:36
We are now in a system系统 where anyone任何人 can rise上升
83
204000
2000
而是只要靠着努力
03:38
to any position位置 they please.
84
206000
2000
就能攀上我们想到的高度
03:40
And it's a beautiful美丽 idea理念.
85
208000
2000
这是个美丽的理想
03:42
Along沿 with that is a kind of spirit精神 of equality平等. We're all basically基本上 equal等于.
86
210000
4000
出于一种生而平等的精神 我们基本上是平等的
03:46
There are no strictly严格 defined定义
87
214000
2000
没有任何明显的
03:48
kind of hierarchies等级.
88
216000
2000
阶级存在
03:50
There is one really big problem问题 with this,
89
218000
2000
这造成了一个严重的问题
03:52
and that problem问题 is envy羡慕.
90
220000
2000
这个问题是嫉妒
03:54
Envy羡慕, it's a real真实 taboo忌讳 to mention提到 envy羡慕,
91
222000
3000
嫉妒在今日是一种禁忌话题
03:57
but if there is one dominant优势 emotion情感 in modern现代 society社会, that is envy羡慕.
92
225000
3000
但这个社会上最普遍的感受,便是嫉妒
04:00
And it's linked关联 to the spirit精神 of equality平等. Let me explain说明.
93
228000
4000
嫉妒来自生而平等的精神。这么说吧
04:04
I think it would be very unusual异常 for anyone任何人 here, or anyone任何人 watching观看,
94
232000
3000
我想在场的各位 或是观看这个影片的众位
04:07
to be envious羡慕 of the Queen女王 of England英国.
95
235000
2000
很少有人会嫉妒英国女皇
04:09
Even though虽然 she is much richer更丰富 than any of you are.
96
237000
3000
虽然她比我们都更加富有
04:12
And she's got a very large house.
97
240000
3000
住在一个巨大的房子里
04:15
The reason原因 why we don't envy羡慕 her is because she's too weird奇怪的.
98
243000
4000
我们不会嫉妒她的原因是她太怪异了
04:19
She's simply只是 too strange奇怪.
99
247000
2000
她太怪了
04:21
We can't relate涉及 to her. She speaks说话 in a funny滑稽 way.
100
249000
2000
我们无法想象自己与她扯上关系,她的语调令人发噱
04:23
She comes from an odd place地点.
101
251000
2000
来自一个奇怪的地方
04:25
So we can't relate涉及 to her. And when you can't relate涉及 to somebody, you don't envy羡慕 them.
102
253000
4000
我们与她毫无关联。当你认为你与这个人毫无关联时,你便不会嫉妒
04:29
The closer接近 two people are, in age年龄, in background背景,
103
257000
3000
越是两个年龄、背景相近的人
04:32
in the process处理 of identification鉴定, the more there is a danger危险 of envy羡慕 --
104
260000
3000
越容易陷入嫉妒的苦海
04:35
which哪一个 is incidentally顺便 why none没有 of you should ever go to a school学校 reunion团圆 --
105
263000
3000
所以千万避免去参加同学会
04:38
because there is no stronger reference参考 point
106
266000
3000
因为没有比同学
04:41
than people one was at school学校 with.
107
269000
2000
更强烈的参照点了
04:43
But the problem问题, generally通常, of modern现代 society社会, is that it turns the whole整个 world世界
108
271000
3000
今日社会的问题是,它把全世界变成了一个学校
04:46
into a school学校. Everybody每个人 is wearing穿着 jeans牛仔裤, everybody每个人 is the same相同.
109
274000
2000
每个人都穿着牛仔裤,每个人都一样
04:48
And yet然而, they're not.
110
276000
2000
但,并非如此
04:50
So there is a spirit精神 of equality平等, combined结合 with deep inequalities不平等.
111
278000
3000
当生而平等的概念遇上现实中悬殊的不平等
04:53
Which哪一个 makes品牌 for a very -- can make for a very stressful压力 situation情况.
112
281000
3000
巨大的压力就出现了
04:56
It's probably大概 as unlikely不会 that you would nowadays如今
113
284000
2000
今日你变得像比尔-盖茨一样
04:58
become成为 as rich丰富 and famous著名 as Bill法案 Gates盖茨,
114
286000
2000
有钱又出名的机会
05:00
as it was unlikely不会 in the 17th century世纪
115
288000
2000
大概就跟你在十七世纪
05:02
that you would accede加入 to the ranks行列 of the French法国 aristocracy贵族.
116
290000
3000
成为法国贵族一样困难
05:05
But the point is, it doesn't feel that way.
117
293000
2000
但重点是,感觉却差别很大
05:07
It's made制作 to feel, by magazines杂志 and other media媒体 outlets网点,
118
295000
3000
今日的杂志和其它媒体让我们感觉
05:10
that if you've got energy能源, a few少数 bright ideas思路 about technology技术,
119
298000
3000
只要你有冲劲、对科技有一些新颖的想法
05:13
a garage车库, you too could start开始 a major重大的 thing.
120
301000
4000
再加上一个车库,你就可以踏上比尔的道路
05:17
(Laughter笑声)
121
305000
1000
(笑声)
05:18
And the consequences后果 of this problem问题 make themselves他们自己 felt in bookshops书店.
122
306000
3000
我们可以从书店中感受到这些问题所造成的后果
05:21
When you go to a large bookshop书店 and look at the self-help自救 sections部分,
123
309000
3000
当你像我一样到大型书店里的
05:24
as I sometimes有时 do,
124
312000
2000
自我帮助书籍类
05:26
if you analyze分析 self-help自救 books图书 that are produced生成
125
314000
2000
如果你分析现在出版的这些自我帮助类书籍
05:28
in the world世界 today今天, there are basically基本上 two kinds.
126
316000
2000
它们基本上分成两种
05:30
The first kind tells告诉 you, "You can do it! You can make it! Anything is possible可能!"
127
318000
3000
第一种告诉你”你做得到!你能成功!没有不可能!“
05:33
And the other kind tells告诉 you how to cope应付
128
321000
3000
另外一种则教导你如何处理
05:36
with what we politely礼貌 call "low self-esteem自尊,"
129
324000
3000
我们婉转地称呼为“缺乏自信”
05:39
or impolitely不客气 call "feeling感觉 very bad about yourself你自己."
130
327000
2000
或是直接了当地称为“自我感觉极差”
05:41
There is a real真实 correlationship相关性,
131
329000
2000
这两者中间有着绝对的关联
05:43
a real真实 correlation相关 between之间 a society社会 that tells告诉 people that they can do anything
132
331000
4000
一个告诉人们他们无所不能的社会
05:47
and the existence存在 of low self-esteem自尊.
133
335000
2000
和缺乏自信有着绝对的关联
05:49
So that's another另一个 way in which哪一个 something that is quite相当 positive
134
337000
2000
这是另一件好事
05:51
can have a nasty讨厌 kickback回扣.
135
339000
2000
也会带来坏影响的例子
05:53
There is another另一个 reason原因 why we might威力 be feeling感觉 more anxious,
136
341000
3000
还有一些其它原因造成我们对事业
05:56
about our careers职业生涯, about our status状态 in the world世界 today今天, than ever before.
137
344000
4000
对我们在世上的地位感到前所未有的焦虑
06:00
And it is, again, linked关联 to something nice不错,
138
348000
2000
再一次地,它也和好的概念有关
06:02
and that nice不错 thing is called meritocracy任人唯贤.
139
350000
3000
这个好概念叫做“功绩主义“
06:05
Everybody每个人, all politicians政治家 on Left and Right,
140
353000
2000
现在,无论是左倾还是右倾的政治人物
06:07
agree同意 that meritocracy任人唯贤 is a great thing,
141
355000
2000
都同意“功绩主义”是个好事
06:09
and we should all be trying to make our societies社会 really, really meritocratic精英.
142
357000
4000
我们应该尽力让我们的社会崇尚“功绩主义”
06:13
In other words, what is a meritocratic精英 society社会?
143
361000
4000
换句话说,一个崇尚“功绩主义”的社会是什么样的呢?
06:17
A meritocratic精英 society社会 is one in which哪一个
144
365000
2000
一个崇尚功绩主义的社会相信
06:19
if you've got talent天赋 and energy能源 and skill技能,
145
367000
2000
如果你有才能、精力、和技术
06:21
you will get to the top最佳. Nothing should hold保持 you back.
146
369000
2000
你就会飞黄腾达,没有什么能阻止你
06:23
It's a beautiful美丽 idea理念. The problem问题 is
147
371000
3000
这是个美好的想法。问题是
06:26
if you really believe in a society社会
148
374000
2000
如果你打从心里相信
06:28
where those who merit值得 to get to the top最佳, get to the top最佳,
149
376000
3000
那些在社会顶层的人都是精英
06:31
you'll你会 also, by implication意义, and in a far more nasty讨厌 way,
150
379000
3000
同时你也暗示着,以一种残忍的方法
06:34
believe in a society社会 where those who deserve值得 to get to the bottom底部
151
382000
3000
相信那些在社会底层的人
06:37
also get to the bottom底部 and stay there.
152
385000
3000
天生就该在社会底层
06:40
In other words, your position位置 in life comes to seem似乎 not accidental偶然,
153
388000
3000
换句话说,你在社会的地位不是偶然
06:43
but merited值得 and deserved应得.
154
391000
2000
而都是你配得的
06:45
And that makes品牌 failure失败 seem似乎 much more crushing破碎.
155
393000
3000
这种想法让失败变得更残忍
06:48
You know, in the Middle中间 Ages时代, in England英国,
156
396000
2000
你知道,在中世纪的英国
06:50
when you met会见 a very poor较差的 person,
157
398000
2000
但你遇见一个非常穷苦的人
06:52
that person would be described描述 as an "unfortunate不幸的" --
158
400000
3000
你会认为他“不走运”
06:55
literally按照字面, somebody who had not been blessed幸福 by fortune幸运, an unfortunate不幸的.
159
403000
4000
直接地说,那些不被幸运之神眷顾的人,不幸的人
06:59
Nowadays如今, particularly尤其 in the United联合的 States状态,
160
407000
2000
今日,尤其在美国
07:01
if you meet遇到 someone有人 at the bottom底部 of society社会,
161
409000
2000
如果人们遇见一些社会底层的人
07:03
they may可能 unkindly不客气 be described描述 as a "loser失败者."
162
411000
3000
他们被刻薄地形容成“失败者”
07:06
There is a real真实 difference区别 between之间 an unfortunate不幸的 and a loser失败者,
163
414000
3000
“不走运”和“失败者”中间有很大的差别
07:09
and that shows节目 400 years年份 of evolution演化 in society社会
164
417000
3000
这表现了四百年的社会演变
07:12
and our belief信仰 in who is responsible主管 for our lives生活.
165
420000
3000
我们对谁该为人生负责看法的改变
07:15
It's no longer the gods, it's us. We're in the driving主动 seat座位.
166
423000
3000
神不再掌握我们的命运,我们掌握自己的人生
07:18
That's exhilarating令人振奋 if you're doing well,
167
426000
2000
如果你做的很好,这是件令人愉快的事
07:20
and very crushing破碎 if you're not.
168
428000
2000
相反的情况,就很令人沮丧
07:22
It leads引线, in the worst最差 cases, in the analysis分析 of a sociologist社会学家
169
430000
3000
社会学家 Emil Durkheim 分析发现
07:25
like Emil埃米尔 Durkheim涂尔干, it leads引线 to increased增加 rates利率 of suicide自杀.
170
433000
4000
这提高了自杀率
07:29
There are more suicides自杀 in developed发达 individualistic个人主义的 countries国家
171
437000
3000
追求个人主义的已发展国家的自杀率
07:32
than in any other part部分 of the world世界.
172
440000
2000
高过于世界上其它地方
07:34
And some of the reason原因 for that is that people take what happens发生
173
442000
2000
原因是人们把发生在自己身上的事情
07:36
to them extremely非常 personally亲自.
174
444000
2000
全当作自己的责任
07:38
They own拥有 their success成功. But they also own拥有 their failure失败.
175
446000
4000
人们拥有成功,也拥有失败
07:42
Is there any relief浮雕 from some of these pressures压力
176
450000
2000
有什么方法可以解决刚才提到的
07:44
that I've just been outlining概述?
177
452000
2000
这些焦虑呢?
07:46
I think there is. I just want to turn to a few少数 of them.
178
454000
2000
是有的。我想提出几项
07:48
Let's take meritocracy任人唯贤.
179
456000
2000
先说“功绩主义”
07:50
This idea理念 that everybody每个人 deserves值得 to get where they get to,
180
458000
3000
也就是相信每个人的地位忠实呈现他的能力
07:53
I think it's a crazy idea理念, completely全然 crazy.
181
461000
3000
我认为这种想法太疯狂了
07:56
I will support支持 any politician政治家 of Left and Right,
182
464000
2000
我可以支持所有相信这个想法的
07:58
with any halfway decent正经 meritocratic精英 idea理念.
183
466000
2000
无论是左倾还是右倾的政治家
08:00
I am a meritocratmeritocrat in that sense.
184
468000
2000
我同样相信功绩主义
08:02
But I think it's insane to believe that we will ever
185
470000
2000
但我认为一个完全彻底以能力取决地位的社会
08:04
make a society社会 that is genuinely真正的 meritocratic精英. It's an impossible不可能 dream梦想.
186
472000
4000
是个不可能的梦想
08:08
The idea理念 that we will make a society社会
187
476000
2000
这种我们能创造一个
08:10
where literally按照字面 everybody每个人 is graded分级,
188
478000
2000
每个人的能力都忠实地被分级
08:12
the good at the top最佳, and the bad at the bottom底部,
189
480000
2000
好的就到顶端,坏的就到底部
08:14
and it's exactly究竟 doneDONE as it should be, is impossible不可能.
190
482000
2000
而且保证过程毫无差错,这是不可能的
08:16
There are simply只是 too many许多 random随机 factors因素:
191
484000
2000
这世上有太多偶然的契机
08:18
accidents事故, accidents事故 of birth分娩,
192
486000
2000
不同的机运,出身
08:20
accidents事故 of things dropping落下 on people's人们 heads, illnesses疾病, etc等等.
193
488000
3000
疾病,从天而降的意外等等
08:23
We will never get to grade年级 them,
194
491000
2000
我们却无法将这些因素分级
08:25
never get to grade年级 people as they should.
195
493000
2000
无法完全忠实的将人分级
08:27
I'm drawn to a lovely可爱 quote引用 by St. Augustine奥古斯丁 in "The City of God,"
196
495000
3000
我很喜欢圣奥古斯丁在“上帝之城”里的一句话
08:30
where he says, "It's a sin to judge法官 any man by his post岗位."
197
498000
4000
他说“以社会地位评价人是一种罪”
08:34
In modern现代 English英语 that would mean
198
502000
2000
用现在的口吻说
08:36
it's a sin to come to any view视图 of who you should talk to
199
504000
2000
看一个人的名片来决定你是否要和他交谈
08:38
dependent依赖的 on their business商业 card.
200
506000
2000
是罪
08:40
It's not the post岗位 that should count计数.
201
508000
2000
对圣奥古斯丁来说
08:42
According根据 to St. Augustine奥古斯丁,
202
510000
2000
人的价值不在他的社会地位
08:44
it's only God who can really put everybody每个人 in their place地点.
203
512000
2000
只有神可以决定一个人的价值
08:46
And he's going to do that on the Day of Judgment判断
204
514000
2000
他将在天使围绕、小号奏鸣
08:48
with angels天使 and trumpets小号, and the skies天空 will open打开.
205
516000
2000
天空破开的世界末日给于最后审判
08:50
Insane idea理念, if you're a secularist世俗主义 person, like me.
206
518000
3000
如果你是像我一样的世俗论者,这想法太疯狂了
08:53
But something very valuable有价值 in that idea理念, nevertheless虽然.
207
521000
2000
但这想法有它的价值
08:55
In other words, hold保持 your horses马匹 when you're coming未来 to judge法官 people.
208
523000
4000
换句话说,最好在你开口评论他人之前悬崖勒马
08:59
You don't necessarily一定 know what someone's谁家 true真正 value is.
209
527000
3000
你很有可能不知道他人的真正价值
09:02
That is an unknown未知 part部分 of them.
210
530000
2000
这是不可测的
09:04
And we shouldn't不能 behave表现 as though虽然 it is known已知.
211
532000
3000
于是我们不该为人下定论
09:07
There is another另一个 source资源 of solace慰藉 and comfort安慰 for all this.
212
535000
3000
还有另一种慰藉
09:10
When we think about failing失败 in life, when we think about failure失败,
213
538000
3000
当我们想象人生中的失败
09:13
one of the reasons原因 why we fear恐惧 failing失败 is not just
214
541000
2000
我们恐惧的原因并不只是
09:15
a loss失利 of income收入, a loss失利 of status状态.
215
543000
2000
失去收入,失去地位
09:17
What we fear恐惧 is the judgment判断 and ridicule嘲笑 of others其他. And it exists存在.
216
545000
4000
我们害怕的是他人的评论和嘲笑,它的确存在
09:21
You know, the number one organ器官 of ridicule嘲笑
217
549000
2000
今日世界上最会嘲笑人的
09:23
nowadays如今, is the newspaper报纸.
218
551000
2000
便是报纸
09:25
And if you open打开 the newspaper报纸 any day of the week,
219
553000
2000
每天我们打开报纸
09:27
it's full充分 of people who've谁一直 messed搞砸 up their lives生活.
220
555000
2000
都能看到那些把生活搞砸的人
09:29
They've他们已经 slept with the wrong错误 person. They've他们已经 taken采取 the wrong错误 substance物质.
221
557000
3000
他们与错误对象共枕,使用错误药物
09:32
They've他们已经 passed通过 the wrong错误 piece of legislation立法. Whatever随你 it is.
222
560000
2000
通过错误法案,种种
09:34
And then are fit适合 for ridicule嘲笑.
223
562000
3000
让人在茶余饭后拿来挖苦的新闻
09:37
In other words, they have failed失败. And they are described描述 as "losers失败者."
224
565000
3000
这些人失败了,我们称他们为“失败者”
09:40
Now is there any alternative替代 to this?
225
568000
2000
还有其它做法吗?
09:42
I think the Western西 tradition传统 shows节目 us one glorious辉煌 alternative替代,
226
570000
2000
西方传统给了我们一个光荣的选择
09:44
and that is tragedy悲剧.
227
572000
3000
就是“悲剧”
09:47
Tragic悲惨 art艺术, as it developed发达 in the theaters剧院 of ancient Greece希腊,
228
575000
3000
悲剧的艺术来自古希腊
09:50
in the fifth第五 century世纪 B.C., was essentially实质上 an art艺术 form形成
229
578000
2000
西元前五世纪,这是一个专属于
09:52
devoted忠诚 to tracing追踪 how people fail失败,
230
580000
3000
描绘人类失败过程的艺术
09:55
and also according根据 them a level水平 of sympathy同情,
231
583000
4000
同时也加入某种程度的同情
09:59
which哪一个 ordinary普通 life would not necessarily一定 accord符合 them.
232
587000
4000
在现代生活并不常给于同情时
10:03
I remember记得 a few少数 years年份 ago, I was thinking思维 about all this,
233
591000
1000
几年前我思考着这件事
10:04
and I went to see "The Sunday星期日 Sport运动,"
234
592000
2000
我去见“周日运动期刊”
10:06
a tabloid小报 newspaper报纸 that I don't recommend推荐 you to start开始 reading
235
594000
3000
如果你还不认识这个小报
10:09
if you're not familiar with it already已经.
236
597000
2000
我建议你也别去读
10:11
I went to talk to them
237
599000
2000
我去找他们聊聊
10:13
about certain某些 of the great tragedies悲剧 of Western西 art艺术.
238
601000
3000
西方艺术中最伟大的几个悲剧故事
10:16
I wanted to see how they would seize抢占 the bare bones骨头
239
604000
2000
我想知道他们会如何露骨地以新闻的方式
10:18
of certain某些 stories故事 if they came来了 in as a news新闻 item项目
240
606000
3000
在周日下午的新闻台上
10:21
at the news新闻 desk on a Saturday星期六 afternoon下午.
241
609000
3000
呈现这些经典悲剧故事
10:24
So I told them about Othello奥赛罗. They had not heard听说 of it but were fascinated入迷 by it.
242
612000
2000
我谈到他们从未耳闻的《奥赛罗》,他们啧啧称奇
10:26
(Laughter笑声)
243
614000
1000
(笑声)
10:27
And I asked them to write the headline标题 for the story故事 of Othello奥赛罗.
244
615000
3000
我要求他们以奥赛罗的故事写一句头条
10:30
They came来了 up with "Love-Crazed爱疯狂 Immigrant移民 Kills杀敌 Senator's参议员 Daughter女儿"
245
618000
3000
他们写道“移民因爱生恨,刺杀参议员之女”
10:33
splashed across横过 the headline标题.
246
621000
2000
大头条
10:35
I gave them the plotline情节主线 of Madame夫人 Bovary包法利夫.
247
623000
2000
我告诉他们《包法利夫人》的故事
10:37
Again, a book they were enchanted入迷 to discover发现.
248
625000
2000
他们再一次感到惊异万分
10:39
And they wrote "Shopaholic购物狂 Adulteress奸妇 Swallows燕子 Arsenic After Credit信用 Fraud舞弊."
249
627000
5000
写道“不伦购物狂信用欺诈,出墙妇女吞砒霜”
10:44
(Laughter笑声)
250
632000
1000
(笑声)
10:45
And then my favorite喜爱.
251
633000
2000
我最喜欢的是
10:47
They really do have a kind of genius天才 all of their own拥有, these guys.
252
635000
2000
这些记者真的很有才
10:49
My favorite喜爱 is Sophocles'索福克勒斯的 Oedipus俄狄浦斯 the King国王:
253
637000
2000
我最喜欢的是索福克勒斯的《俄狄浦斯王》
10:51
"Sex性别 With Mum沉默 Was Blinding致盲"
254
639000
3000
“与母亲的盲目性爱”
10:54
(Laughter笑声)
255
642000
3000
(笑声)
10:57
(Applause掌声)
256
645000
2000
(掌声)
10:59
In a way, if you like, at one end结束 of the spectrum光谱 of sympathy同情,
257
647000
3000
如果同理心的一个极端
11:02
you've got the tabloid小报 newspaper报纸.
258
650000
2000
是这些八卦小报
11:04
At the other end结束 of the spectrum光谱 you've got tragedy悲剧 and tragic悲惨 art艺术,
259
652000
3000
另一个极端便是悲剧和悲剧艺术
11:07
and I suppose假设 I'm arguing争论 that we should learn学习 a little bit
260
655000
2000
我想说的是或许我们该从
11:09
about what's happening事件 in tragic悲惨 art艺术.
261
657000
2000
悲剧艺术中学习
11:11
It would be insane to call Hamlet村庄 a loser失败者.
262
659000
3000
你不会说汉姆雷特是个失败者
11:14
He is not a loser失败者, though虽然 he has lost丢失.
263
662000
3000
虽然他失败了,他却不是一个失败者
11:17
And I think that is the message信息 of tragedy悲剧 to us,
264
665000
2000
我想这就是悲剧所要告诉我们的
11:19
and why it's so very, very important重要, I think.
265
667000
3000
也是我认为非常重要的一点
11:22
The other thing about modern现代 society社会
266
670000
2000
现代社会让我们焦虑的
11:24
and why it causes原因 this anxiety焦虑
267
672000
2000
另一个缘故是
11:26
is that we have nothing at its center中央 that is non-human非人类的.
268
674000
3000
我们除了人类以外没有其它重心
11:29
We are the first society社会 to be living活的 in a world世界
269
677000
2000
我们是从古至今的第一个无神社会
11:31
where we don't worship崇拜 anything other than ourselves我们自己.
270
679000
3000
除了我们自己以外,我们不膜拜任何事物
11:34
We think very highly高度 of ourselves我们自己, and so we should.
271
682000
2000
我们对自己评价极高,为什么不呢
11:36
We've我们已经 put people on the moon月亮. We've我们已经 doneDONE all sorts排序 of extraordinary非凡 things.
272
684000
3000
我们把人送上月球,达成了许多不可思议的事
11:39
And so we tend趋向 to worship崇拜 ourselves我们自己.
273
687000
2000
我们习惯崇拜自己
11:41
Our heroes英雄 are human人的 heroes英雄.
274
689000
2000
我们的英雄是人类
11:43
That's a very new situation情况.
275
691000
2000
这是一个崭新的情况
11:45
Most other societies社会 have had, right at their center中央,
276
693000
2000
历史中大部分的社会重心
11:47
the worship崇拜 of something transcendent超然: a god,
277
695000
2000
都是敬拜一位人类以外的灵体,神
11:49
a spirit精神, a natural自然 force, the universe宇宙,
278
697000
2000
自然力、宇宙
11:51
whatever随你 it is, something else其他 that is being存在 worshiped崇拜.
279
699000
3000
总之是人类以外的什么
11:54
We've我们已经 slightly lost丢失 the habit习惯 of doing that,
280
702000
2000
我们逐渐失去了这种习惯
11:56
which哪一个 is, I think, why we're particularly尤其 drawn to nature性质.
281
704000
2000
我想这也是我们越来越被大自然吸引的原因
11:58
Not for the sake清酒 of our health健康, though虽然 it's often经常 presented呈现 that way,
282
706000
3000
虽然我们时常显示是为了健康,但我不这么认为
12:01
but because it's an escape逃逸 from the human人的 anthill.
283
709000
4000
我认为是为了逃避人群的蚁丘
12:05
It's an escape逃逸 from our own拥有 competition竞争,
284
713000
2000
逃避人们的疯狂竞争
12:07
and our own拥有 dramas电视剧.
285
715000
2000
我们的戏剧化
12:09
And that's why we enjoy请享用 looking at glaciers冰川 and oceans海洋,
286
717000
2000
这便是为什么我们如此喜欢看海、观赏冰山
12:11
and contemplating考虑 the Earth地球 from outside its perimeters周边, etc等等.
287
719000
4000
从外太空观赏地球等等
12:15
We like to feel in contact联系 with something that is non-human非人类的,
288
723000
4000
我们希望重新和那些“非人类”的事物有所连接
12:19
and that is so deeply important重要 to us.
289
727000
4000
那对我们来说很重要
12:23
What I think I've been talking about really is success成功 and failure失败.
290
731000
3000
我一直在谈论成功和失败
12:26
And one of the interesting有趣 things about success成功
291
734000
3000
成功的有趣之处是
12:29
is that we think we know what it means手段.
292
737000
2000
我们时常以为我们知道成功是什么
12:31
If I said to you that there is somebody behind背后 the screen屏幕
293
739000
2000
如果我现在说,这个屏幕后面站着一个非常成功的人
12:33
who is very very successful成功, certain某些 ideas思路 would immediately立即 come to mind心神.
294
741000
3000
你心里马上就会产生一些想法
12:36
You would think that person might威力 have made制作 a lot of money,
295
744000
2000
你会想,这个人可能很有钱
12:38
achieved实现 renown名声 in some field领域.
296
746000
3000
在某些领域赫赫有名
12:41
My own拥有 theory理论 of success成功 -- and I'm somebody
297
749000
2000
我对成功的理解是,首先
12:43
who is very interested有兴趣 in success成功. I really want to be successful成功.
298
751000
3000
我是一个对成功非常有兴趣的人,我想要成功
12:46
I'm always thinking思维, "How could I be more successful成功?"
299
754000
2000
我总是想着“要怎样我才能更成功?”
12:48
But as I get older旧的, I'm also very nuanced细致入微
300
756000
2000
但当我渐渐长大,我越来越疑惑
12:50
about what that word "success成功" might威力 mean.
301
758000
2000
究竟什么是“成功”的真正意义
12:52
Here's这里的 an insight眼光 that I've had about success成功.
302
760000
2000
我对成功有一些观察
12:54
You can't be successful成功 at everything.
303
762000
3000
你不可能在所有事情上成功
12:57
We hear a lot of talk about work-life工作生活 balance平衡.
304
765000
2000
我们常听到有关工作和休闲的平衡
12:59
Nonsense废话. You can't have it all. You can't.
305
767000
3000
鬼话。你不可能全部拥有。你就是不能。
13:02
So any vision视力 of success成功
306
770000
2000
所有对成功的想象
13:04
has to admit承认 what it's losing失去 out on,
307
772000
2000
必须承认他们同时也失去了一些东西
13:06
where the element元件 of loss失利 is.
308
774000
2000
放弃了一些东西
13:08
I think any wise明智的 life will accept接受,
309
776000
3000
我想一个智者能接受
13:11
as I say, that there is going to be an element元件 where we are not succeeding下一.
310
779000
3000
如我所说,总是有什么是我们得不到的
13:14
Thing about a successful成功 life
311
782000
2000
常常,我们对一个成功
13:16
is, a lot of the time, our ideas思路
312
784000
2000
人生的想象
13:18
of what it would mean to live生活 successfully顺利 are not our own拥有.
313
786000
3000
不是来自我们自己
13:21
They are sucked in from other people:
314
789000
2000
而是来自他人
13:23
chiefly主要, if you're a man, your father父亲,
315
791000
2000
如果你是个男人,你会以父亲做榜样
13:25
and if you're a woman女人, your mother母亲.
316
793000
2000
如果你是个女人,你会以母亲做榜样
13:27
Psychoanalysis心理分析 has been drumming鼓声 home this message信息 for about 80 years年份.
317
795000
3000
精神分析已经重复说了80年
13:30
No one is quite相当 listening hard enough足够, but I very much believe that that's true真正.
318
798000
3000
但很少有人真正听进去。但我的确相信这件事
13:33
And we also suck吮吸 in messages消息
319
801000
2000
我们也会从电视、广告
13:35
from everything from the television电视, to advertising广告,
320
803000
2000
各样的市场宣传中
13:37
to marketing营销, etc等等.
321
805000
2000
得到我们对成功的想象
13:39
These are hugely巨大 powerful强大 forces军队
322
807000
2000
这些东西影响了我们
13:41
that define确定 what we want and how we view视图 ourselves我们自己.
323
809000
4000
对我们自己的看法、我们想要什么
13:45
When we're told that banking银行业 is a very respectable可敬 profession职业
324
813000
3000
当我们听说银行业是个受人尊敬的行业
13:48
a lot of us want to go into banking银行业.
325
816000
2000
许多人便加入银行业
13:50
When banking银行业 is no longer so respectable可敬, we lose失去 interest利益 in banking银行业.
326
818000
3000
当银行业不再受人尊敬,我们便对银行业失去兴趣
13:53
We are highly高度 open打开 to suggestion建议.
327
821000
3000
我们很能接受建议
13:56
So what I want to argue争论 for is not that we should give up
328
824000
3000
我想说的是,我们不该放弃
13:59
on our ideas思路 of success成功,
329
827000
2000
我们对成功的想象
14:01
but we should make sure that they are our own拥有.
330
829000
2000
但必须确定那些都是我们自己想要的
14:03
We should focus焦点 in on our ideas思路
331
831000
2000
我们应该专注于我们自己的目标
14:05
and make sure that we own拥有 them,
332
833000
3000
确定这目标是我们真正想要的
14:08
that we are truly the authors作者 of our own拥有 ambitions野心.
333
836000
2000
确定这个梦想蓝图出自自己笔下
14:10
Because it's bad enough足够, not getting得到 what you want,
334
838000
2000
因为得不到自己想要的已经够糟糕了
14:12
but it's even worse更差 to have an idea理念
335
840000
3000
更糟糕的是,在人生旅程的终点
14:15
of what it is you want and find out at the end结束 of a journey旅程,
336
843000
3000
发觉你所追求的
14:18
that it isn't, in fact事实, what you wanted all along沿.
337
846000
3000
从来就不是你真正想要的。
14:21
So I'm going to end结束 it there.
338
849000
2000
我必须在这里做个总结
14:23
But what I really want to stress强调 is
339
851000
3000
但我真正想说的是
14:26
by all means手段, success成功, yes.
340
854000
2000
成功是必要的
14:28
But let's accept接受 the strangeness陌生感 of some of our ideas思路.
341
856000
2000
但请接受自己怪异的想法
14:30
Let's probe探测 away at our notions概念 of success成功.
342
858000
3000
朝着自己对成功的定义出发
14:33
Let's make sure our ideas思路 of success成功 are truly our own拥有.
343
861000
4000
确定我们对成功的定义都是出于自己的真心
14:37
Thank you very much.
344
865000
2000
非常谢谢各位
14:39
(Applause掌声)
345
867000
16000
(鼓掌)
14:55
Chris克里斯 Anderson安德森: That was fascinating迷人. How do you reconcile调和
346
883000
2000
Chris Anderson: 说的真好。你要如何
14:57
this idea理念 of someone有人 being存在 --
347
885000
5000
与自己和解
15:02
it being存在 bad to think of someone有人 as a loser失败者
348
890000
3000
把一个人称为失败者是糟糕的
15:05
with the idea理念, that a lot of people like, of seizing抓住 control控制 of your life.
349
893000
4000
但许多人都想掌握自己的生活
15:09
And that a society社会 that encourages鼓励 that
350
897000
3000
一个追求这些的社会
15:12
perhaps也许 has to have some winners获奖者 and losers失败者.
351
900000
3000
难免要有赢家和输家。
15:15
Alain阿兰 de Botton波顿: Yes. I think it's merely仅仅 the randomness随机性
352
903000
3000
阿兰·德波顿: 是的,我只是想提出在
15:18
of the winning胜利 and losing失去 process处理 that I wanted to stress强调.
353
906000
2000
输赢的过程中,有太多偶然
15:20
Because the emphasis重点 nowadays如今 is so much
354
908000
2000
今日我们太讲求
15:22
on the justice正义 of everything,
355
910000
2000
所有事情的正义和公平
15:24
and politicians政治家 always talk about justice正义.
356
912000
2000
政治人物总是在谈论正义
15:26
Now I am a firm公司 believer信徒 in justice正义, I just think that it is impossible不可能.
357
914000
3000
我非常支持正义,我只是觉得那不可能
15:29
So we should do everything we can,
358
917000
2000
我们应该尽力
15:31
we should do everything we can to pursue追求 it.
359
919000
2000
尽力去追求正义
15:33
But at the end结束 of the day we should always remember记得
360
921000
2000
但我们也应该记得
15:35
that whoever is facing面对 us, whatever随你 has happened发生 in their lives生活,
361
923000
3000
我们所面对的,无论在他们人生中发生过什么
15:38
there will be a strong强大 element元件 of the haphazard偶然.
362
926000
3000
偶然总是一个强烈的因素
15:41
And it's that that I'm trying to leave离开 room房间 for.
363
929000
2000
我希望大家留一点空间这么想
15:43
Because otherwise除此以外 it can get quite相当 claustrophobic幽闭恐惧症.
364
931000
2000
不然真令人有一种幽闭恐怖症的感觉
15:45
CACA: I mean, do you believe that you can combine结合
365
933000
2000
Chris Anderson: 我是说,你是否相信
15:47
your kind of kinder金德, gentler温和 philosophy哲学 of work
366
935000
2000
在这种温和的哲学下
15:49
with a successful成功 economy经济?
367
937000
4000
可以产生一个发达的经济?
15:53
Or do you think that you can't?
368
941000
2000
还是你认为那不可行?
15:55
But it doesn't matter that much that we're putting too much emphasis重点 on that?
369
943000
2000
还是我们这样反复提醒人们也不甚重要?
15:57
ABAB: The nightmare恶梦 thought
370
945000
3000
阿兰·德波顿: 梦魇是相信
16:00
is that frightening可怕的 people is the best最好 way to get work out of them,
371
948000
4000
恐吓人们是刺激他们发奋的最好办法
16:04
and that somehow不知何故 the crueler残酷 the environment环境
372
952000
3000
或是环境越残酷
16:07
the more people will rise上升 to the challenge挑战.
373
955000
2000
就会有越多人接受挑战
16:09
You want to think, who would you like as your ideal理想 dad?
374
957000
4000
你必须想,你的理想父亲是怎样的?
16:13
And your ideal理想 dad is somebody who is tough强硬 but gentle温和.
375
961000
3000
你的理想父亲往往是严厉又温和的
16:16
And it's a very hard line线 to make.
376
964000
2000
虽然这界限很难画定
16:18
We need fathers父亲, as it were, the exemplary示范 father父亲 figures人物 in society社会,
377
966000
4000
我们社会需要的模范性人物,是像一个理想父亲
16:22
avoiding避免 the two extremes极端,
378
970000
2000
不要走极端
16:24
which哪一个 is the authoritarian独裁的, disciplinarian规律, on the one hand,
379
972000
4000
不要完全集权、纯粹纪律
16:28
and on the other, the lax, no rules规则 option选项.
380
976000
4000
也不要模糊马虎,乱无规章
16:32
CACA: Alain阿兰 de Botton波顿.
381
980000
2000
Chris Anderson: 阿兰·德波顿。
16:34
ABAB: Thank you very much.
382
982000
2000
阿兰·德波顿:谢谢各位。
16:36
(Applause掌声)
383
984000
10000
(鼓掌)
Translated by Coco Shen
Reviewed by Geoff Chen

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Alain de Botton - Philosopher
Through his witty and literate books -- and his new School of Life -- Alain de Botton helps others find fulfillment in the everyday.

Why you should listen

It started in 1997, when Alain de Botton turned away from writing novels and instead wrote a touching extended essay titled How Proust Can Change Your Life, which became an unlikely blockbuster in the "self-help"category. His subsequent books take on some of the fundamental worries of modern life (am I happy? where exactly do I stand?), informed by his deep reading in philosophy and by a novelist's eye for small, perfect moments. His newest book is The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work.

In 2008, de Botton helped start the School of Life in London, a social enterprise determined to make learning and therapy relevant in today's uptight culture. His goal is (through any of his mediums) to help clients learn "how to live wisely and well."

More profile about the speaker
Alain de Botton | Speaker | TED.com