……而且我們還會繼續這樣做：英語精讀講義

in every video, even in this one,

在每一支影片中，甚至包含這支在內，

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

因為我們的影片將非常複雜的主題濃縮成10分鐘的酷炫短片，

and unfortunately,

而不幸的是，

reality is, well, complicated.

現實情況，嗯，很複雜。

The question of how we deal with that 文法

我們該如何處理這個問題，

is central to what we do on this channel

是我們這個頻道的核心所在，

and something we think about a lot.

也是我們經常思考的問題。

What we mean by lying

我們所說的「說謊」，

is the concept of lies to children. 文化背景

指的是「對孩子們說謊」的概念。

The idea that on the path to explaining something complicated, 慣用語

這個想法是指在解釋複雜事物的過程中，

you start off with a little lie, 片語動詞

你會先撒一個小小的謊，

a useful oversimplification

一種有用的過度簡化，

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

讓概念更容易被理解。

For example, as a kid,

比如，在小時候，

you learn that the Earth is a sphere

你會學到地球是一個球體，

orbiting the sun with planet buddies.

帶著一群行星小夥伴繞著太陽轉。

But it's not actually a sphere

但實際上它並不是一個完美的球體，

and the buddies are super different in size

並且小夥伴們的大小差異巨大，

and not close to each other at all.

而且彼此之間也根本不挨著。

By beginning at a place of oversimplification, 文法

透過從一個過度簡化的地方開始，

you're building a framework,

你正在構建一個框架，

a foundation that you can then build upon 片語動詞

一個你可以藉此繼續構建的基礎，

and add nuance and complexity later on. 片語搭配

並在以後加入更多細微差別和複雜性。

Step by step, 片語搭配

循序漸進地，

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

你就能掌握複雜學科的真正要旨。

Science communication has to use lies to children

科學傳播必須在某種程度上使用對孩子們的謊言，

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

否則它就會變成科學教育。

And getting a proper education in all of the scientific fields

而在所有科學領域獲得正規教育，

would take years of intense study

需要經過多年的刻苦學習，

to become fluent in them. 用詞

才能對它們瞭若指掌。

As a species,

作為一個物種，

we have a major interest in summarizing science

我們對總結科學

and its advancements

及其進步

and educating as many people about it as possible

並盡可能多地向人們普及有著極大的興趣，

because we all benefit

因為我們都將從中受益，

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

如果有更多的人具備基於事實的科學世界觀的話。

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

我們會在不同的影片中詳細討論科學是什麼以及它是如何運作的，

in more detail,

講得更細緻一些，

but for now, 表達脈絡

但現在，

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

暫且說它是一個推進、

organize, predict,

組織、預測、

and test our knowledge about the universe.

並檢驗我們對宇宙認知的過程。

If you understand the current state of scientific knowledge,

如果你了解科學知識的現狀，

then you can make better decisions

那麼你就能做出更好的決定，

based on facts and testable ideas

基於事實和可檢驗的想法，

rather than outdated belief systems 文法

而不是過時的信仰體系，

or our intuition

或者我們的直覺，

that evolved to protect our ancestors from lions,

這些直覺在進化中是為了保護我們的祖先免受獅子襲擊，

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

但已不再適合我們複雜多變的現代世界。

Our brains are comically ill-prepared 片語搭配

我們的大腦簡直滑稽地準備不足，

to navigate the fast-moving world

無法駕馭這個快速發展的世界，

we happen to live in today, 文法

我們如今恰好生活在其中，

a world ironically created by science.

諷刺的是，這個世界恰恰是科學創造的。

A few hundred years ago,

幾百年前，

it was possible to be knowledgeable at an expert level

在幾乎每一個研究領域裡

in pretty much every field of study.

都可能成為專家級的知識淵博者。

In the information age,

在資訊時代，

this is a futile endeavor 用詞

這是一種徒勞的努力，

since knowledge and data are increasing exponentially.

因為知識和數據正呈指數級增長。

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

所以，哪怕為了能有一絲機會去把握我們所生活的世界，

we need summaries that give us,

我們也需要有總結來給我們提供，

if not a true understanding of all the details, 文法

即使不是對所有細節的真正理解，

a solid overview.

至少也是一個紮實的概覽。

Explaining science to many people

向大眾解釋科學，

is not about enlightening the ignorant,

並不是為了啟迪無知者，

but necessary for the progress

而是為了整個物種的進步

of our species at large. 慣用語

所必需的。

To make this possible,

為了使這成為可能，

we need to find metaphors and stories

我們需要找到能盡可能捕捉事物真實本質的

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

比喻和故事，

while using a language

同時使用一種

that our brains can deal with. 片語動詞

我們的大腦能夠處理的語言。

A great example here is physics.

這裡一個很好的例子就是物理學。

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

夸克經常被描繪成藍色、紅色和綠色，

with different spins.

帶有不同的自旋。

But just saying spin and using colors

但僅僅說到自旋並使用顏色，

forces our brain to imagine colorful spinning balls,

就會迫使我們的大腦去想像五顏六色旋轉的球，

which is great to visualize the different types

這對於視覺化不同類型

and the relationships between quarks,

及其夸克之間的關係很有效，

but also creates a very wrong image

但也會在我們的腦海中製造出一個非常錯誤

of reality in our heads.

的現實圖景。

Molecules are nothing like the neat diagrams

分子根本不像學校裡教的

that we're taught in school,

那些整潔的圖表，

but buzzing and vibrating entities

而是嗡嗡作響、振動著的實體，

held together by something we call charge

由一種我們稱之為「電荷」的東西維繫在一起，

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

電荷描述了為什麼某些東西想要靠近或逃離彼此，

for some unknown reason.

出於某種未知的原因。

We're describing phenomena

我們正在描述那些

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

我們很確定以某種形式存在的現象，

because the math works out 片語動詞

因為數學計算是合理的，

and we can do real-world experiments

且我們可以進行現實世界的實驗，

and predict their results before we do them.

並在實驗前預測它們的結果。

In reality,

在現實中，

these are models,

這些都是模型，

tricks to summarize what we know

是用來總結我們已知內容的技巧，

and make up a coherent story

編織出一個連貫的故事，

and prepare the ground 慣用語

並為更深入的解釋

for more in-depth explanations.

做好鋪墊。

Don't confuse the description of a thing 文法

不要把對事物的描述

for the thing itself.

和事物本身混為一談。

Simplifications like these

像這樣的簡化

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

並不只是為了把事情弄得傻瓜化，

they're actually useful for experts themselves.

它們對專家本身其實也很有用。

For example,

例如，

chemists who use wrong electron shell models

化學家們使用錯誤的電子殼層模型

to work out chemical bonds 片語動詞

來計算化學鍵，

or scientists using simplified models

或者科學家們使用簡化的模型

as the basis for discussion with colleagues 片語搭配

作為與同事討論的基礎

across different scientific fields.

跨越不同的科學領域。

But the simplification of science can also be problematic

但科學的簡化也可能會帶來問題，

for a bunch of reasons.

出於許多原因。

Finding the true nature of reality

尋找現實的真正本質

is super hard

極其困難，

because our brains did not evolve for this job

因為我們的大腦並不是為了這個工作而進化的，

and the universe doesn't care

而且宇宙也不在乎

if we understand it.

我們是否理解它。

Science is a process

科學是一個

to work towards gaining knowledge 片語動詞

致力於獲取知識的過程，

and not an absolute truth generator.

而不是絕對真理的生成器。

The answers it provides

它提供的答案

are multi-layered and nuanced

是多層次的、有細微差別的，

and that complexity

而這種複雜性

can get lost when it is simplified 用詞

在被簡化時可能會丟失，

especially when it's done so for headlines.

尤其是當它是為了吸引眼球的標題而簡化時。

An interesting cancer study

一項有趣的癌症研究

turns into a potential cure, 片語動詞

變成了潛在的治癒方法，

a healthy food

一種健康食品

becomes the basis for a new diet.

成了新飲食法的基礎。

Such simplifications

這樣的簡化

give a misleading definiteness to science,

賦予了科學一種誤導性的確定感，

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

這違背了科學作為過程的本質。

When cures don't materialize

當治癒方法沒有實現，

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

飲食法也沒有變得神奇時，

we lose confidence in science

我們就會對科學失去信心，

and start to think of all science communication 文法

開始認為所有的科學傳播

as misleading.

都有誤導性。

Then there's the opposite effect. 表達脈絡

還有相反的效應。

If a simplification is too engaging,

如果一個簡化太有吸引力，

if the story it tells is too good,

如果它講述的故事太好，

it can distort

它可以扭曲

the true complexity of a subject

一個學科的真實複雜性，

and give you a false sense of security 片語搭配

給你一種虛假的安全感

and an illusion of deep knowledge.

和一種擁有深厚知識的錯覺。

A gut feeling 慣用語

一種直覺

that you understand the science better than you actually do,

覺得你比實際更了解科學，

which can lead people to ignore actual experts 文法

這可能導致人們忽視真正的專家，

over their dangerous superficial knowledge

相比於他們那危險的膚淺知識

and gut feeling.

和直覺。

And this can have negative consequences

這可能會對我們所有人

for all of us

產生負面後果，

because in the worst case, 片語搭配

因為在最壞的情況下，

overconfidence in your own understanding of science

對自己所理解的科學過度自信，

can lead to bad decisions

可能導致在自信滿滿中

made with confidence.

做出糟糕的決定。

Just think of the surge

只要想想那些猛增的

of people that confidently disavow vaccines

滿懷自信地抵制疫苗

or climate change

或氣候變化的人，

without truly understanding the subject matter.

而他們並沒有真正理解相關主題。

So considering all of this 表達脈絡

因此，考慮到這一切，

and the fact that we at Kurzgesagt

還有我們在 Kurzgesagt

reach millions of people with our videos,

透過影片觸及了數百萬人，

how do we handle this?

我們該如何處理這個問題？

Well,

嗯，

it has been a journey, 慣用語

這是一段旅程，

especially the research.

特別是研究部分。

When we started,

當我們開始時，

we just read articles,

我們只是閱讀文章，

then moved on to books, 片語動詞

然後轉去看書，

peer-reviewed papers,

查閱同行評議的論文，

then to conversations with experts.

接著與專家進行交流。

We began to collect our sources.

我們開始收集我們的資料來源。

With every step,

每走一步，

we realized

我們都意識到，

that we were still not doing enough.

我們做得仍然不夠。

Nowadays,

如今，

we try to read

我們盡量閱讀

as many primary sources as possible, 文法

盡可能多的第一手資料，

talk to multiple experts,

與多位專家交談，

and document our simplifications

並記錄下我們的簡化之處，

and give further reading

在我們的來源文件中提供

in our sources doc.

延伸閱讀。

But this doesn't make our process flawless.

但這並不能使我們的流程完美無缺。

What do you do 表達脈絡

如果專家們意見不一，

if experts disagree with each other?

你該怎麼辦？

What do you do if you find an amazing fact

如果你發現一個驚人的事實，

that perfectly fits a narrative, 片語搭配

完美契合敘事，

but just can't find its primary source?

卻找不到它的主要來源，你該怎麼辦？

How do you deal with the reality

如何應對現實中

that many scientific results

許多科學結論

have huge error bars 用詞

都有巨大的誤差幅度

or maybes attached to them?

或是帶著個「可能」？

How do you handle complex systems

對於拒絕簡單答案的複雜系統，

that defy easy answers? 片語搭配

你怎麼處理？

In the end,

歸根結底，

we make 10-minute videos,

我們製作的是10分鐘的影片，

so we need to make decisions

所以我們需要決定

about what details and explanations can fit, 文法

哪些細節和解釋能塞得下，

which aspects need to be simplified,

哪些方面需要簡化，

and which parts to cut.

以及哪些部分需要刪減。

There is no single best answer

對於如何做這件事

for how to do this,

沒有唯一最好的答案，

and so we weigh the different options 片語搭配

因此我們會權衡不同的選項

every single time.

每一次都是如此。

It can be painful for experts 文法

看到自己的領域被簡化，

to see their field simplified.

對專家來說可能很痛苦。

Some are happy with us,

有些人對我們很滿意，

while others don't like it. 文法

而另一些人則不喜歡這樣。

This is fair,

這很公平，

but also impossible to avoid.

但也無法避免。

We're still trying to improve

我們仍在努力改進，

and want to be transparent 片語搭配

並且希望保持透明，

about what we're trying to do.

公開我們正努力在做的事情。

For example,

例如，

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

我們參與了 TRESCA 專案

about science communication

關於科學傳播，

to learn more.

以了解更多。

All of this brings us 表達脈絡

這一切把我們帶到了

to the purpose of our videos.

我們製作影片的目的。

The most important thing

最重要的一點是，

we want to do with this channel

我們希望透過這個頻道做到的，

is to inspire you

是啟發你，

and spark your curiosity for science 片語搭配

並激發你對科學

and the amazing universe

以及這個我們生活其中的

we live in.

奇妙宇宙的好奇心。

Learning often

學習往往

doesn't feel like fun,

讓人感覺毫無樂趣，

but with the right story,

但如果有恰當的故事，

it is one of the best things,

它就會是世界上最美好的事之一，

and we hope

而我們希望

to provide that to you.

能為你提供這些。

Ultimately,

最終，

we hope

我們希望

that we light a fire in you 慣用語

能在你心中點燃一把火，

that motivates you to read books,

激勵你去讀書，

pay more attention

在學校或大學裡

at school or university,

更加專心，

and just get interested

或是僅僅讓你對一兩個科學領域

in a scientific field or two

產生興趣，

and learn more on your own.

並靠自己去了解更多。

Not because you have to, 表達脈絡

不是因為你不得不這麼做，

but because you want to know more

而是因為你想要了解更多

about how the world

關於這個世界

really works.

到底是如何運轉的。

Because the universe is beautiful

因為宇宙很美，

and science is a way 慣用語

而科學是一種

of seeing this beauty

讓我們更清晰地

more clearly.

看見這種美的方式。

And we hope

並且我們希望，

that knowing that we have to simplify a bit 文法

就算知道我們需要進行一些簡化，

does not make you enjoy

也不會讓你減少

our videos less.

對我們影片的喜愛。

We are trying to build something

我們正試圖透過 Kurzgesagt

with Kurzgesagt

建立些什麼，

and while we're not 100% sure yet

儘管我們現在還不是百分百確定

what exactly,

它具體是什麼，

hopefully something

希望能有一些東西，

that gets people to think 文法

讓人們去思考

about their own life

他們自己的生活，

and the context

以及他們如今所處的

they exist in today,

環境背景，

as well 文法

還有

as the far future

遙遠的未來，

and the potential

以及作為一個物種，

we all have as a species.

我們全都具有的潛力。

And,

還有，

of course,

當然，

how big things are

事物到底有多大，

and what happens

以及會發生什麼

when we blow stuff up 片語動詞

當我們把東西炸掉時，

because it's fun.

因為這很好玩。

Thanks for watching

感謝觀看、

and sharing

分享

and supporting us.

並支持我們。

We really can't

沒有你們，

do this without you.

我們真的做不到。