TED演讲:我们的大问题(7)

 　　Imagine a species that just didn't have this neural¹ machinery² for processing music. 假设有这样一个物种，它们刚好没有能够处理音乐的神经装置。

　　And they would just stare at us with bafflement  当我们花时间聆听一曲美妙的演奏时，

　　when we spend time listening to a beautiful performance,  就像我们刚听到的那支，

　　like the one we just heard -- because of people making stupid movements,  它们只能迷惑的盯着我们，因为觉得人们在做愚蠢的举动。

　　and they would be really irritated and wouldn't see what we were up to.  并且它们会变得很烦躁，不知道我们到底在干什么。

　　But maybe they have another faculty,  但是，它们可能具有另外一种能力，

　　something else that would seem equally irrational³ to us, 一种同样对我们来说毫无意义的东西，

　　but they actually tap into some great possible value there.  但它们的确会在这方面开发出一些美好的可能的价值。

　　But we are just literally⁴ deaf to that kind of value.  但我们对那种价值就是充耳不闻。

　　So we could think of adding on different, new sensory⁵ capacities and mental faculties⁶. 因此，我们可以考虑增加不同的新式的感官机能和精神能力。

　　Bodily functionality and morphology and affective self-control.  身体功能、形态以及情感自我控制。

　　Greater subjective⁷ well-being⁸.  更高层次的主观幸福。

　　Be able to switch between relaxation⁹ and activity --  能够在放松和活动之间转换

　　being able to go slow when you need to do that, and to speed up.  能够根据需要，或放慢速度或加快步伐。

　　Able to switch back and forth¹⁰ more easily would be a neat thing to be able to do 能够进退更加自如是件很棒的事，

　　easier to achieve the flow state,  它可以让我们更加容易进入心流状态，

　　when you're totally immersed in something you are doing.  即一种完全沉浸于所做之事时的状态。

　　Conscientiousness¹¹ and sympathy.  责任心和同情心。

　　The ability to -- it's another interesting application that would have large social ramification¹², perhaps. 这另一种有趣的能力会带来巨大的社会分歧问题。

　　If you could actually choose to preserve your romantic attachments¹³ to one person, undiminished through time, 如果你真的能够保存你对另一个人的浪漫爱恋，不受时光侵蚀，

　　so that wouldn't have to -- love would never have to fade if you didn't want it to.  那么，爱情就会随你心意，永葆灿烂。

1 neural   

adj.神经的，神经系统的

参考例句：

• The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
• The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。

2 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

3 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

5 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

6 faculties   

n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院

参考例句：

• Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬，但头脑仍然清晰。
• All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中，你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 subjective   

a.主观(上)的，个人的

参考例句：

• The way they interpreted their past was highly subjective. 他们解释其过去的方式太主观。
• A literary critic should not be too subjective in his approach. 文学评论家的看法不应太主观。

8 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

9 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

10 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

11 conscientiousness   

责任心

参考例句：

• Conscientiousness is expected of a student. 学生要诚实。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Only has the conscientiousness, diligently works, can make a more splendid result! 只有脚踏实地，努力工作，才能做出更出色的成绩！ 来自互联网

12 ramification   

n.分枝，分派，衍生物

参考例句：

• Public relation of police is a ramification of modern public relations.警察公共关系是现代公共关系的衍生物。
• An apple tree,after going through a long time ramification and sprouting,finally fruited.一棵苹果树经过漫长的分枝抽叶终于结果了。

13 attachments   

n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物

参考例句：

• The vacuum cleaner has four different attachments. 吸尘器有四个不同的附件。
• It's an electric drill with a range of different attachments. 这是一个带有各种配件的电钻。