TED演讲:科学可以回答道德问题(6)

 　　Now, many of you might worry that the notion of well-being¹ is truly undefined, 或许在你们之中，有许多人会担心这所谓的幸福该如何界定

　　and seemingly perpetually open to be re-construed.  这似乎没有一定的标准

　　And so, how therefore can there be an objective notion of well-being? 而且，怎么可能有一种完全客观的人身幸福的标准存在呢？

　　Well, consider by analogy, the concept of physical health.  如果是这样，难道因为对身体健康的概念

　　The concept of physical health is undefined.  没有一个真正的定论

　　As we just heard from Michael Specter, it has changed over the years.  如同Michael Specter适才说道，这些概念也会改变

　　When this statue was carved the average life expectancy² was probably 30. 在这个雕像产生的年代，人类的平均寿命是30

　　It's now around 80 in the developed world.  现在已发展国家的平均寿命是80

　　There may come a time when we meddle³ with our genomes in such a way that not being able to run a marathon 也许有一天，因为我们对基因的研究，

　　at age 200 will be considered a profound disability.  200岁不能跑马拉松是一种残疾

　　People will send you donations when you're in that condition.  如果你有这种状况，人们会捐钱给你

　　Notice that the fact that the concept of health is open, genuinely open for revision, does not make it vacuous⁴. 我们知道健康的观念会改变，随时都可以重新思考，这不代表这些讨论是毫无意义的

　　The distinction between a healthy person and a dead one 一个健康的人和一个死人之间的差别

　　is about as clear and consequential⁵ as any we make in science.  在科学或理论里是一样的

　　Another thing to notice is there may be many peaks on the moral landscape:  另外一个该注意的事情是道德地图上虽然有很多山巅

　　There may be equivalent ways to thrive;  是有可能可以一起努力

　　there may be equivalent ways to organize a human society so as to maximize human flourishing. 一起找出一个管理人类社会的方法，一起找出最大的幸福

　　Now, why wouldn't this undermine an objective morality? 为什么我们不能将这个当作客观道德的基础？

　　Well think of how we talk about food:  想象我们讨论食物的方式

　　I would never be tempted⁶ to argue to you that there must be one right food to eat. 我永远不会和你争辩人类应该有吃的自由

1 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。

2 expectancy   

n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额

参考例句：

• Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.日本人的平均寿命非常长。
• The atomosphere of tense expectancy sobered everyone.这种期望的紧张气氛使每个人变得严肃起来。

3 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。

4 vacuous   

adj.空的，漫散的，无聊的，愚蠢的

参考例句：

• Male models are not always so vacuous as they are made out to be.男模特儿并不总像人们说的那样愚蠢。
• His eyes looked dull,almost vacuous.他看上去目光呆滞，茫然若失。

5 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

6 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。