……我们还会这么做：英语精读讲义

in every video, even in this one,

在每一期视频中，甚至包括这期在内，

because our videos distill very complex subjects into flashy 10-minute pieces, 用詞

因为我们的视频把非常复杂的学科浓缩成了10分钟的酷炫短片，

and unfortunately,

且不幸的是，

reality is, well, complicated.

现实情况，嗯，很复杂。

The question of how we deal with that 語法

我们该如何处理这个问题，

is central to what we do on this channel

是我们这个频道的核心所在，

and something we think about a lot.

也是我们经常思考的问题。

What we mean by lying

我们所说的“说谎”，

is the concept of lies to children. 文化背景

指的是“对孩子们说谎”的概念。

The idea that on the path to explaining something complicated, 習語

这个想法是指在解释复杂事物的过程中，

you start off with a little lie, 短語動詞

你会先撒一个小小的谎，

a useful oversimplification

一种有用的过度简化，

that makes it easier to grasp a concept. 短語搭配

让概念更容易被理解。

For example, as a kid,

比如，在小时候，

you learn that the Earth is a sphere

你会学到地球是一个球体，

orbiting the sun with planet buddies.

带着一群行星小伙伴绕着太阳转。

But it's not actually a sphere

但实际上它并不是一个完美的球体，

and the buddies are super different in size

并且小伙伴们的大小差异巨大，

and not close to each other at all.

而且彼此之间也根本不挨着。

By beginning at a place of oversimplification, 語法

通过从一个过度简化的地方开始，

you're building a framework,

你正在构建一个框架，

a foundation that you can then build upon 短語動詞

一个你可以借此继续构建的基础，

and add nuance and complexity later on. 短語搭配

并在以后加入更多细微差别和复杂性。

Step by step, 短語搭配

循序渐进地，

you're getting towards the real gist of the complicated subject. 用詞

你就能掌握复杂学科的真正要旨。

Science communication has to use lies to children

科学传播必须在某种程度上使用对孩子们的谎言，

to some degree or it turns into science education. 短語搭配

否则它就会变成科学教育。

And getting a proper education in all of the scientific fields

而在所有科学领域获得正规教育，

would take years of intense study

需要经过多年的刻苦学习，

to become fluent in them. 用詞

才能对它们了如指掌。

As a species,

作为一个物种，

we have a major interest in summarizing science

我们对总结科学

and its advancements

及其进步

and educating as many people about it as possible

并尽可能多地向人们普及有着极大的兴趣，

because we all benefit

因为我们都将从中受益，

if more people have a fact-based scientific worldview. 用詞

如果有更多的人具备基于事实的科学世界观的话。

We will discuss what science is and how it works in different videos

我们会在不同的视频中详细讨论科学是什么以及它是如何运作的，

in more detail,

讲得更细致一些，

but for now, 表達脈絡

但现在，

let's just say it's a process to advance,

暂且说它是一个推进、

organize, predict,

组织、预测、

and test our knowledge about the universe.

并检验我们对宇宙认知的过程。

If you understand the current state of scientific knowledge,

如果你了解科学知识的现状，

then you can make better decisions

那么你就能做出更好的决定，

based on facts and testable ideas

基于事实和可检验的想法，

rather than outdated belief systems 語法

而不是过时的信仰体系，

or our intuition

或者我们的直觉，

that evolved to protect our ancestors from lions,

这些直觉在进化中是为了保护我们的祖先免受狮子袭击，

but is no longer suited for the complexity of our modern world. 短語搭配

但已不再适合我们复杂多变的现代世界。

Our brains are comically ill-prepared 短語搭配

我们的大脑简直滑稽地准备不足，

to navigate the fast-moving world

无法驾驭这个快速发展的世界，

we happen to live in today, 語法

我们如今恰好生活在其中，

a world ironically created by science.

讽刺的是，这个世界恰恰是科学创造的。

A few hundred years ago,

几百年前，

it was possible to be knowledgeable at an expert level

在几乎每一个研究领域里

in pretty much every field of study.

都可能成为专家级的知识渊博者。

In the information age,

在信息时代，

this is a futile endeavor 用詞

这是一种徒劳的努力，

since knowledge and data are increasing exponentially.

因为知识和数据正呈指数级增长。

So to even have a chance of grasping the world we live in,

所以，哪怕为了能有一丝机会去把握我们所生活的世界，

we need summaries that give us,

我们也需要有总结来给我们提供，

if not a true understanding of all the details, 語法

即使不是对所有细节的真正理解，

a solid overview.

至少也是一个扎实的概览。

Explaining science to many people

向大众解释科学，

is not about enlightening the ignorant,

并不是为了启迪无知者，

but necessary for the progress

而是为了整个物种的进步

of our species at large. 習語

所必需的。

To make this possible,

为了使这成为可能，

we need to find metaphors and stories

我们需要找到能尽可能捕捉事物真实本质的

that capture the true nature of things as much as possible 短語搭配

比喻和故事，

while using a language

同时使用一种

that our brains can deal with. 短語動詞

我们的大脑能够处理的语言。

A great example here is physics.

这里一个很好的例子就是物理学。

Quarks are often depicted as blue, red, and green 語法

夸克经常被描绘成蓝色、红色和绿色，

with different spins.

带有不同的自旋。

But just saying spin and using colors

但仅仅说到自旋并使用颜色，

forces our brain to imagine colorful spinning balls,

就会迫使我们的大脑去想象五颜六色旋转的球，

which is great to visualize the different types

这对于可视化不同类型

and the relationships between quarks,

及其夸克之间的关系很有效，

but also creates a very wrong image

但也会在我们的脑海中制造出一个非常错误

of reality in our heads.

的现实图景。

Molecules are nothing like the neat diagrams

分子根本不像学校里教的

that we're taught in school,

那些整洁的图表，

but buzzing and vibrating entities

而是嗡嗡作响、振动着的实体，

held together by something we call charge

由一种我们称之为“电荷”的东西维系在一起，

that describes how certain things want to be close or escape each other

电荷描述了为什么某些东西想要靠近或逃离彼此，

for some unknown reason.

出于某种未知的原因。

We're describing phenomena

我们正在描述那些

that we are pretty sure exist in some form or another 短語搭配

我们很确定以某种形式存在的现象，

because the math works out 短語動詞

因为数学计算是合理的，

and we can do real-world experiments

且我们可以进行现实世界的实验，

and predict their results before we do them.

并在实验前预测它们的结果。

In reality,

在现实中，

these are models,

这些都是模型，

tricks to summarize what we know

是用来总结我们已知内容的技巧，

and make up a coherent story

编织出一个连贯的故事，

and prepare the ground 習語

并为更深入的解释

for more in-depth explanations.

做好铺垫。

Don't confuse the description of a thing 語法

不要把对事物的描述

for the thing itself.

和事物本身混为一谈。

Simplifications like these

像这样的简化

are not just meant to dumb things down, 短語動詞

并不只是为了把事情弄得傻瓜化，

they're actually useful for experts themselves.

它们对专家本身其实也很有用。

For example,

例如，

chemists who use wrong electron shell models

化学家们使用错误的电子壳层模型

to work out chemical bonds 短語動詞

来计算化学键，

or scientists using simplified models

或者科学家们使用简化的模型

as the basis for discussion with colleagues 短語搭配

作为与同事讨论的基础

across different scientific fields.

跨越不同的科学领域。

But the simplification of science can also be problematic

但科学的简化也可能会带来问题，

for a bunch of reasons.

出于许多原因。

Finding the true nature of reality

寻找现实的真正本质

is super hard

极其困难，

because our brains did not evolve for this job

因为我们的大脑并不是为了这个工作而进化的，

and the universe doesn't care

而且宇宙也不在乎

if we understand it.

我们是否理解它。

Science is a process

科学是一个

to work towards gaining knowledge 短語動詞

致力于获取知识的过程，

and not an absolute truth generator.

而不是绝对真理的生成器。

The answers it provides

它提供的答案

are multi-layered and nuanced

是多层次的、有细微差别的，

and that complexity

而这种复杂性

can get lost when it is simplified 用詞

在被简化时可能会丢失，

especially when it's done so for headlines.

尤其是当它是为了吸引眼球的标题而简化时。

An interesting cancer study

一项有趣的癌症研究

turns into a potential cure, 短語動詞

变成了潜在的治愈方法，

a healthy food

一种健康食品

becomes the basis for a new diet.

成了新饮食法的基础。

Such simplifications

这样的简化

give a misleading definiteness to science,

赋予了科学一种误导性的确定感，

which goes against its process-like nature. 短語動詞

这违背了科学作为过程的本质。

When cures don't materialize

当治愈方法没有实现，

and diets don't turn out to be magical, 短語動詞

饮食法也没有变得神奇时，

we lose confidence in science

我们就会对科学失去信心，

and start to think of all science communication 語法

开始认为所有的科学传播

as misleading.

都有误导性。

Then there's the opposite effect. 表達脈絡

还有相反的效应。

If a simplification is too engaging,

如果一个简化太有吸引力，

if the story it tells is too good,

如果它讲述的故事太好，

it can distort

它可以扭曲

the true complexity of a subject

一个学科的真实复杂性，

and give you a false sense of security 短語搭配

给你一种虚假的安全感

and an illusion of deep knowledge.

和一种拥有深厚知识的错觉。

A gut feeling 習語

一种直觉

that you understand the science better than you actually do,

觉得你比实际更了解科学，

which can lead people to ignore actual experts 語法

这可能导致人们忽视真正的专家，

over their dangerous superficial knowledge

相比于他们那危险的肤浅知识

and gut feeling.

和直觉。

And this can have negative consequences

这可能会对我们所有人

for all of us

产生负面后果，

because in the worst case, 短語搭配

因为在最坏的情况下，

overconfidence in your own understanding of science

对自己所理解的科学过度自信，

can lead to bad decisions

可能导致在自信满满中

made with confidence.

做出糟糕的决定。

Just think of the surge

只要想想那些猛增的

of people that confidently disavow vaccines

满怀自信地抵制疫苗

or climate change

或气候变化的人，

without truly understanding the subject matter.

而他们并没有真正理解相关主题。

So considering all of this 表達脈絡

因此，考虑到这一切，

and the fact that we at Kurzgesagt

还有我们在 Kurzgesagt

reach millions of people with our videos,

通过视频触及了数百万人，

how do we handle this?

我们该如何处理这个问题？

Well,

嗯，

it has been a journey, 習語

这是一段旅程，

especially the research.

特别是研究部分。

When we started,

当我们开始时，

we just read articles,

我们只是阅读文章，

then moved on to books, 短語動詞

然后转去看书，

peer-reviewed papers,

查阅同行评议的论文，

then to conversations with experts.

接着与专家进行交流。

We began to collect our sources.

我们开始收集我们的资料来源。

With every step,

每走一步，

we realized

我们都意识到，

that we were still not doing enough.

我们做得仍然不够。

Nowadays,

如今，

we try to read

我们尽量阅读

as many primary sources as possible, 語法

尽可能多的第一手资料，

talk to multiple experts,

与多位专家交谈，

and document our simplifications

并记录下我们的简化之处，

and give further reading

在我们的来源文档中提供

in our sources doc.

延伸阅读。

But this doesn't make our process flawless.

但这并不能使我们的流程完美无缺。

What do you do 表達脈絡

如果专家们意见不一，

if experts disagree with each other?

你该怎么办？

What do you do if you find an amazing fact

如果你发现一个惊人的事实，

that perfectly fits a narrative, 短語搭配

完美契合叙事，

but just can't find its primary source?

却找不到它的主要来源，你该怎么办？

How do you deal with the reality

如何应对现实中

that many scientific results

许多科学结论

have huge error bars 用詞

都有巨大的误差幅度

or maybes attached to them?

或是带着个“可能”？

How do you handle complex systems

对于拒绝简单答案的复杂系统，

that defy easy answers? 短語搭配

你怎么处理？

In the end,

归根结底，

we make 10-minute videos,

我们制作的是10分钟的视频，

so we need to make decisions

所以我们需要决定

about what details and explanations can fit, 語法

哪些细节和解释能塞得下，

which aspects need to be simplified,

哪些方面需要简化，

and which parts to cut.

以及哪些部分需要删减。

There is no single best answer

对于如何做这件事

for how to do this,

没有唯一最好的答案，

and so we weigh the different options 短語搭配

因此我们会权衡不同的选项

every single time.

每一次都是如此。

It can be painful for experts 語法

看到自己的领域被简化，

to see their field simplified.

对专家来说可能很痛苦。

Some are happy with us,

有些人对我们很满意，

while others don't like it. 語法

而另一些人则不喜欢这样。

This is fair,

这很公平，

but also impossible to avoid.

但也无法避免。

We're still trying to improve

我们仍在努力改进，

and want to be transparent 短語搭配

并且希望保持透明，

about what we're trying to do.

公开我们正努力在做的事情。

For example,

例如，

we're taking part in the TRESCA project 短語搭配

我们参与了 TRESCA 项目

about science communication

关于科学传播，

to learn more.

以了解更多。

All of this brings us 表達脈絡

这一切把我们带到了

to the purpose of our videos.

我们制作视频的目的。

The most important thing

最重要的一点是，

we want to do with this channel

我们希望通过这个频道做到的，

is to inspire you

是启发你，

and spark your curiosity for science 短語搭配

并激发你对科学

and the amazing universe

以及这个我们生活其中的

we live in.

奇妙宇宙的好奇心。

Learning often

学习往往

doesn't feel like fun,

让人感觉毫无乐趣，

but with the right story,

但如果有恰当的故事，

it is one of the best things,

它就会是世界上最美好的事之一，

and we hope

而我们希望

to provide that to you.

能为你提供这些。

Ultimately,

最终，

we hope

我们希望

that we light a fire in you 習語

能在你心中点燃一把火，

that motivates you to read books,

激励你去读书，

pay more attention

在学校或大学里

at school or university,

更加专心，

and just get interested

或是仅仅让你对一两个科学领域

in a scientific field or two

产生兴趣，

and learn more on your own.

并靠自己去了解更多。

Not because you have to, 表達脈絡

不是因为你不得不这么做，

but because you want to know more

而是因为你想要了解更多

about how the world

关于这个世界

really works.

到底是如何运转的。

Because the universe is beautiful

因为宇宙很美，

and science is a way 習語

而科学是一种

of seeing this beauty

让我们更清晰地

more clearly.

看见这种美的方式。

And we hope

并且我们希望，

that knowing that we have to simplify a bit 語法

就算知道我们需要进行一些简化，

does not make you enjoy

也不会让你减少

our videos less.

对我们视频的喜爱。

We are trying to build something

我们正试图通过 Kurzgesagt

with Kurzgesagt

建立些什么，

and while we're not 100% sure yet

尽管我们现在还不是百分百确定

what exactly,

它具体是什么，

hopefully something

希望能有一些东西，

that gets people to think 語法

让人们去思考

about their own life

他们自己的生活，

and the context

以及他们如今所处的

they exist in today,

环境背景，

as well 語法

还有

as the far future

遥远的未来，

and the potential

以及作为一个物种，

we all have as a species.

我们全都具有的潜力。

And,

还有，

of course,

当然，

how big things are

事物到底有多大，

and what happens

以及会发生什么

when we blow stuff up 短語動詞

当我们把东西炸掉时，

because it's fun.

因为这很好玩。

Thanks for watching

感谢观看、

and sharing

分享

and supporting us.

并支持我们。

We really can't

没有你们，

do this without you.

我们真的做不到。