TED演讲:企业垄断的新时代(5)

 The market is not the society. Our societies are, of course, much, much more than the market. 市场不是社会。我们的社会，当然比市场要大许多。

But lack of trust in the market can rub off on society so we lose trust in our society as well. 但缺少对市场的信任，会影响整个社会，所以我们也对社会失去信任。

And it may be the most important thing we have, trust. 信任是我们所拥有最重要的东西。

We can trust each other if we are treated as equals. 我们如果受到公平对待，就会信任彼此。

If we are all to have the same chances, well, we all have to follow the same fundamental rules. 如果我们都有同样的机会，那么我们必须遵守同样的基本规则。

Of course, some people and some businesses are more successful than others, 当然，一些人和企业比其他人更成功，

but we do not trust in a society if the prizes are handed out even before the contest begins. 但如果在比赛开始前就已颁发奖项，我们就无法信任这个社会。

And this is where competition rules come in, 这就是竞争规范要解决的问题，

because when we make sure that markets work fairly, then businesses compete on the merits¹, 因为当我们确保市场公平运行时，企业就会老老实实竞争，

and that helps to build the trust that we need as citizens to feel comfortable and in control, 这帮助我们建立人民所需的信任，让我们感到舒适，感到可以掌控我们的选择，

and the trust that allows our society to work. 这种信任帮助使我们的社会运作。

Because without trust, everything becomes harder. 因为没有信任，每件事就变得困难。

Just to live our daily lives, we need to trust in strangers, to trust the banks who keep our money, 为了过好日常生活，我们必须信任陌生人，信任保管我们钱财的银行，

the builders who build our home, the electrician² who comes to fix the wiring, the doctor who treats us when we're ill, 盖我们房子的工人，来修电线的电工，我们生病时所看的医生，

not to mention the other drivers on the road, and everyone knows that they are crazy. 更不用说路上的其他驾驶员，大家都知道他们很疯狂。

And yet, we have to trust them to do the right thing. 但我们仍需相信他们会做正确的事。

And the thing is that the more our societies grow, the more important trust becomes and the harder it is to build. 我们的社会越是成长，信任就越发重要，但也越难建立。

And that is a paradox³ of modern societies. 这就是现代社会的矛盾之处。

And this is especially true when technology changes the way that we interact⁴. 这尤其表现在当科技改变我们的相处模式时。

Of course, to some degree, technology can help us to build trust in one another with ratings⁵ systems and other systems that enable the sharing economy. 某种程度上，通过评分系统和其他系统科技可帮助我们建立对彼此的信任，开启共享经济。

But technology also creates completely new challenges when they ask us not to trust in other people 但科技也带来前所未有的挑战，科技要我们不去相信其他人，

but to trust in algorithms and computers. 改而相信算法和计算机。

 

1 merits   

[宗教]（行善得到的）功德( merit的名词复数 )； 功勋； 长处； 荣誉

参考例句：

• the merits and demerits of the scheme 这个方案的优缺点
• the relative merits of the two plans 相比较之下两个计划各自的优点

2 electrician   

n.电工，电气技师

参考例句：

• She said she would find an electrician for us.她说她要给我们找一个电工技师。
• We need an electrician to mend the iron.我们要请电工修理熨斗。

3 paradox   

n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物)

参考例句：

• The story contains many levels of paradox.这个故事存在多重悖论。
• The paradox is that Japan does need serious education reform.矛盾的地方是日本确实需要教育改革。

4 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

5 ratings   

n.等级( rating的名词复数 )；收视率；表示电影分级的数字（或字母）；（海军）水兵

参考例句：

• He won high ratings [marks] in all his examinations. 他所有的考试都获得高分。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The boat was operated by two naval ratings in dress whites. 船由两个穿着白色礼服的水兵驾驶。 来自辞典例句