Think for yourself 新标准大学英语原文(1)

Thinkforyourself1.Thinkingforyourselfisstillaradicalact.2.Thinkingforyourselfisnotapopularactivity,thoughitshouldbe.Everystepofrealprogressinoursocietyhascomefromit.Butinmostcircles,particularlyinplacesthatshapeourlives–families,schoolsandmostworkplaces–thinkingforyourselfisregardedwithsuspicion.Someinstitutionsthwartitonpurpose.Itcanbeseenasdangerous.3.IwasremindedofthissadfactatapartywhenafellowguestaskedmethesubjectofabookIwasplanningtowrite.Itoldhimthatitwasabouthowpeoplecanhelpeachothertothinkforthemselves.“Ohdear,”hesaid,“Idon’tthinkmuchofthat;Imuchpreferpeopledoasthey’retold.”Ilaterfoundoutthatheisthefourth-generationpresidentofoneofthelargestoilcompanies.4.Whenwasthelastorganizationalvisionstatementyousawthatincludedthewords“…todevelopourselvesintoamodelenvironmentinwhicheveryoneateverylevelcanthinkforthemselves”?Forthatmatter,whenwasthelasttimesomebodyaskedyou,“Whatdoyoureallythink,really?”andthenwaitedforyoutoansweratlength?5.Thisdearthshouldnotsurpriseus.Hardlyanyonehasbeenencouraged,muchlesstrained,tothinkforthemselves,andtheirteachersandparentsandbossesweren’teither.Andneitherweretheirs.(WemayhavelearnedtoreverethinkerslikeSocrates,butwealsolearnedthatthestatepoisonedhimforthinkingforhimself:notunmitigatedencouragement.)6.Occasionally,however,wedohaveateacherormentorwhotrulywantsustodevelopourownthinking.Theygiveusglimpses.WhenIwas13yearsold,Iwasputintoanadvancedalgebracourse.Onthefirstdaytheteacher,whowasmalignedbystudentsasahardteacherbecauseshetriedtogetthemtothink,stoodinfrontoftheblackboardandsaid,“Onthepaperinfrontofyouwritethesumofanumber.”7.Theentireclassof35pubescentpeoplejuststaredather.Sherepeatedthedirection,“Writethesumofanumber.”8.Iremembermyhandgatheringsweataroundthepencil.Afewheadslookeddownandtheirpencilsstartedup.Iwonderedwhatintheworldtheywerewriting.Isawthegirlacrosstheaislefrommeleanforwardandpeerovertheshoulderoftheboyinfrontofherwhowasscribblingsomething.Thenshescratchedafigureandimmediatelycovereditwithherhand.9.Theteacherpacedandrubbedthechalkbetweenherfingers.Iwonderedwhatshewasabouttoputontheboard.Iwasnowtheonlyonenotwriting.Ileanedbackandovermyleftshoulderwhisperedtomyfriend,“Whatisit?”10.“Seven,”shewhisperedback.11.SoIwrote“7”onmypaper.Ikeptmyheaddown,hopingIlookedbusyandconfident.12.Aftertheagonyamongushadbecometactile,theteacheraskedusforouranswers.Thenumber7wasprevalent.Shewalkedslowlyovertotheboardandwrote:“Thereisnosuchthingasthesumofanumber.”13.Iknewthat.14.Whydidn’tyouwriteit?15.Sarahsaiditwas7.16.Whydidyouaskher?17.Because–Idon’tknow.18.That’sright.Fromnowon,thinkforyourself.19.Iwastooscaredaroundthatteacherfortherestofmyyounglifetothinkverywellinherpresence.ButItookthemessagewithmeandgraduallyexaminedandvaluedit.Idon’trecommendhumiliatingpeopleintothinkingforthemselvesasshehad.ShecertainlydidnotcreateaThinkingEnvironmentforus.Hadsheaffirmedourintelligencefirstandspokenaboutthejoyofthinkingforourselves,hadshenotfannedourfearofher,wewouldallhavelearnedevenmorepowerfullywhatitmeanttodoourthinking.Andwemighthavebeenabletothinkwellaroundhertoo.20.Butatleastsheintroducedtheconceptintomyacademiclife.presence.ButItookthemessagewithmeandgraduallyexaminedandvaluedit.Idon’trecommendhumiliatingpeopleintothinkingforthemselvesasshehad.ShecertainlydidnotcreateaThinkingEnvironmentforus.Hadsheaffirmedourintelligencefirstandspokenaboutthejoyofthinkingforourselves,hadshenotfannedourfearofher,wewouldallhavelearnedevenmorepowerfullywhatitmeanttodoourthinking.Andwemighthavebeenabletothinkwellaroundhertoo.20.Butatleastsheintroducedtheconceptintomyacademiclife.