Unit 3 Groundless Beliefs

GroundlessBeliefs A E Mander GroundlessBeliefs Unit3 Questions Activities Check onPreview Objectives W B T R Warmingup GroundlessBeliefs Unit3 Warmingup Questions Activities Arecarrotsarabbit sfavorite Howdoyouknow W B T R Aristotlevs Galileo s Lesson6 GroundlessBeliefs WhywasGalileoabletoproveAristotlewrong WhatlessonshallwelearnfromGalileo sexperiment Warmingup Questions Activities Whatarethewordsusedbytheauthorinreferringtogroundless beliefs propositions assumptions dogma opinionAccordingtotheauthorwheredothesebeliefscomefrom fromotherpeople family friends media tradition interestgroups etc Whydowetendtoacceptthesebeliefs suggestion self interest sentimentalassociations FashionWhydowehavetobeonguardagainstthem mostofthemareirrational theyare ratherthanthought oncetheybecomesos intheypreventusfromacceptingnewideas Check onPreview Warmingup Objectives CallattentiontogroundlessbeliefsUnderstandthecausesofgroundlessbeliefsDiscusstheimportanceofinquisitionConsiderthestrategiesagainstgroundlessbeliefsEncouragestudentstoactivelyidentifygroundlessbeliefsinlifeAppreciatethelogicstructure W B T R Warmingup Background Author B W T R GroundlessBeliefs Unit3 A E Mander 1894 1985 Awell publishedAustralianscholar Background Author HisLifeandWorks BooksLogicforthemillionsClearerthinking logicforeveryman QuotationsfromMander sbook Hewhocannotreasonisafool hewhowillnotisabigot hewhodarenotisaslave W Drummond Background Author TextAnalysis T W B R GroundlessBeliefs Unit3 TextAnalysis Theme UnderstandthesourcesofgroundlessbeliefsDevelopthealerttogroundlessbeliefsEmphasizetheimportanceofacurious inquiringmindDiscusshowtodevelopsuchamind T W B R TheIntroduction para 1 PrevalenceofgroundlessbeliefsII Thebody paras 2 24 Types CausesofgroundlessbeliefsResultofenvironmentinearlylife paras 2 3 Parroting paras 4 13 Self interest paras 14 17 Sentimentalassociations paras 18 19 Fashion paras 20 24 III Theconclusion para 25 Thewriter spraiseofrationalthinkers TextAnalysis Structure TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis MainIdea SentenceParaphrase Words Expressions Exercise IIIIII T W B R TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartI TheIntroduction para 1 PrevalenceofgroundlessbeliefsMainIdea Whatdoestheauthoradvocateinthefirstsentence Haveyoueveraskedyourselfthesequestions Canyougiveexamplesofgroundlessbeliefswhichrestupon meretradition orsomebody s bareassertion SentenceParaphrase1 Infuturewearegoingtofollowthepractice untilitbecomesahabit ofclassifyingpropositionsaccordingtotheirgrounds Para 1 Classifyingpropositionsaccordingtotheirgroundsisimportantbecausepeopleveryoftenbasetheirjudgmentofpropositionsaccordingtotheirpopularity usefulness sourceofauthorityaswellastotheirpersonaltaste Theydonotalwaysacceptbeliefsbecausetheyaretrue Oftentheyacceptthembecausetheirbeliefsservetheirimmediatepurpose orbecausetheysoundnice orbecauseitiseasierorsafertoacceptthem takethispracticeasaguide goto2 abaseforanargument SentenceParaphrase2 Theyrestuponmeretradition oronsb sbareassertionunsupportedbyevenashadowofproof Para 1 Theyareonlybasedontradition oronsomebody sassertion butarenotsupportedevenbytheleastamountofproof strongstatementswithoutthesupportofproof theslightesttraceof goto3 tobebasedon TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartI Words Expressions Words Phrases SentencePattern class comeacrossmeetwithrestupon on ashadowof Whatreasonhavewefordoing TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartI Exercise TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish usingwordsinthebrackets 如今 在他们生活的城市 农民工很少被当成市民看待 class Yetfewofmigrantworkersareevenclassedascitizensofthecitywheretheylive 一个国家的实力不只是取决于经济发展 它至少在相同的程度上有赖于其教育水平 restupon Thestrengthofacountrydoesnotrestuponeconomicdevelopmentalone itrestsuponeducation atleasttothesameextent 我们明确地知道 人的生命从何时开始 ashadowof Weknow withoutashadowofadoubt whenhumanlifebegins TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Types Causesofgroundlessbeliefs paras 2 24 Section1 Resultofenvironmentinearlylife paras 2 3 Howcanasimple suggestion becomea belief uncriticallyweacceptedandbelievedit wedidn thavethepowerofquestioning Howshallwedealwiththebeliefsdevelopedinearlychildhood TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis RomanCatholicInordertobesaved allpersonswhohaveattainedtheuseofreasonmustbelieveexplicitlythatGodexistsandthatherewardsthegoodandpunishesthewicked TheChurchisthecongregationofallbaptizedpersons undertheauthorityoftheSovereignPontiffandthebishopsincommunionwithhim WefindthechieftruthstaughtbyJesusChristthroughtheCatholicChurchintheApostles Creed PresbyterianWebelievethatJesusChrististheeternalSonofGod andweshalltrustinHim alone forsalvation WebelievetheBibleistherevelationofGod struthandisinfallibleandauthoritativeinallmattersoffaithandpractice WebelievethatallaresinnersandtotallyunabletosavethemselvesfromGod sdispleasure exceptbyHismercy SentenceParaphrase3 Manyofstrongestconvictionswereestablishedthen Para 2 Theyarestrongbecausetheyhavebeeninourmindforsuchalongtime Theyarestrongbecausetheywereimprintedonourmindwhenwewerelittlechildren beforewewereabletojudgeforourselves Theyarestrongbecausetheywerepassedontousduringourmostformativeyearsandoftenbypeoplewetrustedandloved firmbelieforopinion goto4 SentenceParaphrase4 ButifthestaunchestRomanCatholicandthestaunchestPresbyterianhadbeenexchangedwheninfants andiftheyhadbeenbroughtupwithhomeandallotherinfluencesreserved wecanhavelittledoubtwhattheresultwouldhavebeen Para 3 Butiftheywereexchangedwhentheywereinfantsandbroughtupindifferenthomesandunderdifferentinfluences thenthestaunchestRomanCatholicwouldbethestaunchestPresbyterian andviceversa Thisshowsthatourbeliefsarelargelyinfluencedbyoursurroundings byexchangingallkindsofinfluencethey vegotfromhomeorothersources goto5 SentenceParaphrase5 Itisconsistentwithallourknowledgeofpsychologytoconcludethateachwouldhavegrownupholdingexactlytheoppositebeliefstothoseheholdsnow Para 3 Wecanconclude basedonallourknowledgeofpsychology thateachwouldhavegrownuphavingexactlytheoppositebeliefstowhattheyhavenow goto6 SentenceParaphrase6 Ifwehadgrownupinacommunitywherepolygamyorhead hunting orinfanticide orgladiatorialfighting ordueling wasregardedasthenormalandnaturalthing thenweshouldhavegrownuptoregarditas obviously naturalandperfectlymoralandproper Para 3 Polygamy head hunting infanticide gladiatorialfightingandduelingarepracticedonlyinsomecommunitiesorpracticedincertainhistoricaltimes Theyareconsideredimmoral improperandabnormalelsewhereorinmoderntimes goto7 TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Words Expressions Words Phrases SentencePattern Grammar wayreverse beconsistentwith feelsureof bebroughtupto Itis todo Thesameistrueof wheninfants omission TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Exercise TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish usingwordsinthebrackets 尽管中国有此抱怨 但世界贸易组织称碳关税符合世界贸易规则 consistent DespiteblusterfromBeijing theWTOsayscarbontariffscanbeconsistentwithworldtraderules 尽管沃尔玛员工的确一般比较穷 但去那里购物的人也同样如此 thesame WhileitistruethatWalmartemployeestendtobepoor thesameistrueofWalmartshoppers TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Types Causesofgroundlessbeliefs paras 2 24 Section2 Parroting paras 4 13 MainIdea Whatdoes parroting mean Copy echo orrepeatwithoutquestion AcceptonlysuchnewideasasfitinwiththeideaswealreadyholdHowshouldwetreatotherpeople sideasaccordingtotheauthor What stheauthoropinionofnewspapersandadvertisements Whydowetendtoacceptonlysuchnewideasasfitinwiththeideaswealreadyhold andallconflictingideasseemtous obviously absurd Whatpropositionsshouldwetreatwithcaution OldpropositionsObvioustruths TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis Progressinhumanthoughtseemstoconsistmainlyingettingridofsuchideas SentenceParaphrase7 Ofcoursewedonotcease toadoptnewbeliefsonmeresuggestions totakeonlythemoststrikingexamples theenormousinfluenceofnewspapersandtheeffectivenessofskilfuladvertising Para 4 Ofcourseitdoesnotmeanthatwhenwegrowupwenolongerhavethesemistakenbeliefs Westilldo Wearestilleasyandoftenwillingvictimsofnewspapersandadvertising SentenceParaphrase8 Muchofwhatpassesassuchisnot strictly thinkingatall Itisthemere parroting ofideaspickedupbychanceandadoptedasourownwithoutquestion Mostpeople mostofthetime aremereparrots Para 4 goto9 whatpeopletakeasthinking Mostpeople mostofthetime aremereparrots Theysimplyecho orrepeatothers ideaswithoutquestion SentenceParaphrase9 Itmaybepartofthetraditionalbeliefofthepeopleortherace Para 5 Aperson sracial cultural national political class gender generationidentity whileenablinghim hertoseetheworldinauniqueapproach alsotendstolimithis hervision goto10 SentenceParaphrase10 Butweshouldfullyfacethefactthatbeliefswhicharemerelyinheritedfromthepastmusthaveoriginatedatatimewhenmenknewmuchlessthantheyknowtoday Sothefactthatabeliefis old isnoargumentinitsfavour Para 5 Tobecontinuedonthenextpage anappositiveclausewith fact asitsantecedent anattributiveclausewith beliefs asitsantecedent anattributiveclauseinitiatedbytherelativeadverb when with atime asitsantecedentwhen atwhichtime SentenceParaphrase10 Butweshouldadmitthatthebeliefspassedontousbyourancestorsarebasedonthelimitedknowledgeoftheoldtime Theirbeliefsmustbelackofstrongsupportssinceitiscertainthatweknowmuchmorethanourancestorsdid Therefore weshouldnotadoptabeliefjustbecauseitisold backto10 SentenceParaphrase11 Whenwefindourselvesentertaininganopinionaboutwhichthereisafeelingthateventoenquireintoitwouldbeabsurd unnecessary undesirableorwicked wemayknowthatopinionisanon rationalone Para 7 Anothercommonmistakewemakeistojudgeopinionsaccordingtoourfeeling Anopinionistruebecauseitistrue notbecausewelikeitorfinditdesirableoruseful Infact truthcanoftenbeunpleasantorpainfulwhereasuntruthcanbesoothingandattractive Thatiswhyopinionsareoftenbitterlydebatedorenthusiasticallycherished preciselybecausetheirtruthfulnessisnotestablished torealizethatoneisunconsciouslydoingsth SentenceParaphrase12 Theage longstruggleofthegreatestintellectsintheworldtoshakeoffthatassumptionisoneofthemarvelsofhistory Para 9 Ittookmanyscientistsofgreatestlearninghundredsofyearstostruggleagainsttheassumptionthattheplanetsmovedincircles Thesuccessofgettingridofthatassumptionisoneofthemiraclesinhumanhistory togetridoff goto13 SentenceParaphrase13 Manymodernpersonsfinditverydifficulttocreditthefactthatmencaneverhavesupposedotherwise Yet theydid Para 10 Manymodernpeoplearehardtobelievethatforsometimemenhadeverthoughttheywerethinkingwiththeirhearts Yetitistruethattheancientpeoplereallythoughtinthatway tobelievethefact differently goto14 SentenceParaphrase14 Anassumedordogmaticpropositionwhichhadbeenuniversallyacceptedas obvious andwhich whenchallenged wassupportedbyreferencetoadogmaofAristotle UntilGalileoactuallydemonstratedthecontrary nothingcouldhaveseemedmorebeyondpossibilityordoubt Para 12 Itwasapropositionthathadbeenuniversallyacceptedasanobvioustruth Wheneveritwaschallenged itwouldbeprovedtruewiththestrongsupportofAristotle stheory oneofthemostfirmlyhelddogmas ItwouldneverbequestionedordoubtediftherewasnoGalileowhoprovedthatthecontrarywastruebymeansofademonstration TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartIII Words Expressions Words Phrases SentencePattern Grammar entertaintemptconceiveintellectcredit v fitinwithononesguardbreakdowninthelightofonthegroundsofconsistin suchnewideasasfitinwith Thattheearthmustbeflatformallyseemedsoobvious TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Exercise TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish usingwordsinthebrackets 我不会考虑从事这种不跟人打交道的工作 entertain Iwouldn tentertaintheideaofsuchanunsociablejob 我决不相信那个荒谬绝伦的故事 credit Ishallnevercreditthatabsurdtale 人们永远根据其它人的行动调整他们的行为 inthelightof Humansareforeveradaptingtheirbehaviourinthelightofothers actions TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Types Causesofgroundlessbeliefs paras 2 24 Section3 Self interest paras 14 17 MainIdea Whatdoes self interest mean Wayofearningone slivelihoodandacquiringwealthSocialpositionJustification Howissomeone ssocialpositiondefined PopularityRespectandgoodwillPrestige TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis SentenceParaphrase15 Otherbeliefsareheldthroughself interest Modernpsychologyleavesusnoroomfordoubtonthispoint Weadoptandclingtosomebeliefsbecause orpartlybecause it pays ustodoso Para 14 Weholdandclingtosomebeliefsmerelybecauseitisinourinteresttobelievethem Modernpsychologyhasalreadyprovedthispoint andasaresult thereisnothingtodoubt paysb todosth tobringbenefitoradvantagetosb todosth goto16 SentenceParaphrase16 Indeed hewouldprobablybehighlyindignantiftoldofwhatanyonefamiliarwithmodernpsychologycanrecognizesoplainly Para 14 Hewouldsurelyfeelfuriousifsomeonetoldhimaplainfactthathehadheldsomebeliefsthroughself interest whichanyonewhoisfamiliarwithmodernpsychologycanrecognizeveryeasily goto17 Humanmotivationsarecomplicated Thereareother regardingmotivationsaswellasself regardingones Thereforeitiswrongtobecynicalandthinkthatallbeliefsarebasedonself interest However wemustadmitthatselfinterestisaverypowerfulfactor SentenceParaphrase17 Itwouldbequitewrongtoattributeallopinions evenpoliticalopinions toself interest Butitwouldbeequallywrongtodenythatthisisonepotentfactor Para 14 goto18 Butthemeaningofthistermmightbeunderstoodinabroadersense Itmayincludehisconcernforposition popularity fame respect love etc SentenceParaphrase18 Butwemayextendthetermtocoveralsohisinterestinsocialposition popularitywithhisfellows therespectandgoodwillofthosewhoserespectandgoodwillhevalues Para 15 extendthemeaningoftheword goto19 Manypeopleareforcedtoholdabeliefbecausehehasbecomeanimportantpersoninhisgroup Ifhegaveupthatbelief hewouldturninsignificantatonce SentenceParaphrase19 Thereismanyamanwhoisunconsciouslycompelledtoclingtoabeliefbecauseheisa somebody insomecircle andifheweretoabandonthatbelief hewouldfindhimselfnobodyatall Para 15 Therearemanypeople goto20 animportantpersoninacertaingroupofpeoplewhoknoweachother SentenceParaphrase20 Puttingitbroadly weshouldalwayssuspectanyofouropinionswhenwerecognizethatourhappinessdepends directlyorindirectly uponourcontinuingtoholdthem whenwemightloseanything materialorotherwisebychangingouropinion Para 16 Ifbychangingouropinionswemightlosesomethingandthereforebeunhappy wemustbesuspiciousabouttheseopinionsandtrytofindoutwhetherwearenotbeingblindedbyourself interest goto21 SentenceParaphrase21 Somewhatsimilaristheacceptanceofanopinionthroughthedesire probablynotrecognizedbythepersonconcerned tojustifyhisownnature hisownposition orhisownbehaviour Para 17 Acceptinganopinionthroughthedesireisalsothesamecase Thedesireofdefendingourweaknesses mistakes vulnerablepositionsorwrongdoingsbecomesanotherfactortoacceptagroundlessopinioneasily Hereitisnolongertheinteresttogainbuttheinteresttoavoidlosingcertainthings goto22 Thelazyandstupidpersoncanreadilyadoptasetofopinionswithoutquestioningwhy sincetheyclearlyknowthattheseopinionsareunobtainabletothem onlypeoplewhohaveenergyandabilitycanberewardedwiththeseopinions SentenceParaphrase22 Thelazyandbunglingpersoncanadoptasetofopinionswhichprovetohissatisfactionthat thegrapesaresour the grape beingtherewardsthatmoreenergeticandcompetentmencanwin Para 17 anidiomdescribingthosepeoplewhopretendtodislikewhatonereallydesires becauseitisunobtainable goto23 TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartIII Words Expressions Words Phrases SentencePattern Grammar attributecompeljustify leavenoroomfor clingto Putitbroadly Thereismanyamanwhois the grapes beingtherewards TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Exercise TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish usingwordsinthebrackets 她认为她的高寿是精心安排饮食的结果 attribute Sheattributeshergreatagetocarefullyplanneddiet 他坚信有朝一日他会返回故乡 clingto Heclingstothebeliefthatonedayhewillbeabletoreturntohisnativehome 自此以后 许多中央银行明白了 流通纸币 信任就是一切 manya Withpapermoney confidenceiseverything asmanyacentralbankhassincethendiscovered TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Types Causesofgroundlessbeliefs paras 2 24 Section4 Sentimentalassociations paras 18 19 MainIdea Whatexamplesdoyouhaveforgroundlessbelievesoriginatedfrom sentimentalassociations Doyouagreewiththeauthor sargumentsabout sentimentalassociations Howshallweavertsuchatendency TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis SentenceParaphrase23 Manygroundlessopinionsareheldthroughsentimentalassociations Thethoughtisassociatedwithmemories pleasantorunpleasantasthecasemaybe ofparticularpersonswhoheldsimilaropinions Para 18 Veryoftenwelikeordislikeanopinionbecauseitisheldbysomebodywelikeordislike Thisisanothercommonerror Thefactisthatthereisnocorrelationbetweenthetruthfulnessofanopinionandthepersonwhoholdsthatopinion Niceandwell meaningpeoplemayhaveerroneousopinions whereasunpleasantpeoplemayholdcorrectopinions goto24 SentenceParaphrase24 Inadultlife aswehaveoftenobserved abitterquarrelmaychangeaman sopinionentirely Antagonismtoamanusuallyproducessomeantagonismtohisopinions Para 19 Therewasatimewhenwebelievedthatweshouldopposewhateverourenemiessupportedandsupportwhateverourenemiesopposed Thisoftenprovedtobewrong goto25 hostility dislike hatred Ifwedislikeorenvyaperson wewilltendtodisregardorattackhisopinions fromwhichwemayacquireastrongsatisfaction SentenceParaphrase25 Whatkeensatisfactionwefindinbelittlingtheopinions orattackingtheopinions ofsomebodyofwhomwearejealous orofsomebodyagainstwhomwebearagrudge Para 19 goto26 strongsatisfaction TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartIII Words Expressions Words Phrases associatebelittlegrudgedispose haverecollectionsof playapartin standfor TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Exercise TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglish usingwordsinthebrackets 无论你怎么看待马克思 你都不可能贬低他在我们的世界中所发挥的作用 belittle WhateveronemaythinkaboutMarx onemustnotbelittletheroleheplaysinourworld 如果任何人辜负了她的信任 她会怨恨一辈子 grudge Shecouldholdalife longgrudgeagainstanyonewhobetrayedhertrust 市场情况的变化使我们倾向于取消合同 dispose Changesinthemarketconditionsheredisposeustocancelthecontract TextAnalysis DetailedAnalysis PartII Types Causesofgroundlessbeliefs paras 2 24 Section5 Fashion paras 20 24 MainIdea Whatdoestheauthormeanby fashion HowothersofourownsetfeelandbelieveHabitsofthought Whatisthebio psychologicalexplanationfor brainpath Whyistherethe brainpath thoughtpattern Inintrospection doyoufindanyparticular brainpaths inyourself Whatarethey TextAnalysis D