友邻哲学旅人 E31 构建新学科（下）

E31 构建新学科（下）

Nothing is beneath science, nor above it. Sorceries, dreams, predictions, telepathic communications, "psychical phenomena" in general must be subjected to scientific examination; "for it is not known in what cases, and how far, effects attributed to superstition participate of natural causes."
没有什么东西屈于科学之下或者之上，科学其实是一个很中立的东西。 巫术、梦魇、预知未来、心灵感应等所有“精神现象”都应当接受科学的检验，“因为我们不知道在什么情况下，在多大程度上，这些所谓的迷信会对自然产生的影响。”

（背后是有自然影响的，却被迷信解读。）

Despite his strong naturalistic bent he feels the fascination of these problems; nothing human is alien to him.
虽然培根有强烈的自然主义倾向，但他仍被这些问题所吸引。他的身体当中并不是完全机械的东西，他试图了解人类的一切。

Who knows what unsuspected truth, what new science, indeed, may grow out of these investigations, as chemistry budded out from alchemy?
谁知道这些未知的真理，在这种调查当中产生出什么？就像化学不就源自炼金术吗？

"Alchemy may be compared to the man who told his sons he had left them gold buried somewhere in his vineyard; where they, by digging, found no gold, but by turning up the mould about the roots of the vines, procured a plentiful vintage. So the search and endeavors to make gold have brought many useful inventions and instructive experiments to light."
“炼金术就好比一个人告诉他的儿子们，他在葡萄园里埋了金子，尽管儿子们挖遍历园子一无所获，但因为他们挖松了葡萄根周围的土，所以收获了丰盛的葡萄。同样，意在炼金的探索已经带来了许多有用的发明以及启示性的实验楼。”

科学的偶然性，很多东西有偶然性，那么怎么把偶然性变成必然性？

Still another science grows to form in Book VIII: the science of success in life.
在第8卷里，又有一门科学诞生了，生活成功的科学。

Not yet having fallen from power, Bacon offers some preliminary hints on how to rise in the world.
此时，培根正仕途得意，他就如何在这个世界立足给出了一些初级建议。

The first requisite is knowledge: of ourselves and of others.
首先需要的是知识，了解自己与别人的知识。

读书是成功的先决条件。

Gnothi seauton is but half; know thyself is valuable chiefly as a means of knowing others.
“自知”只是一半，其可贵之处在于它是了解别人的有效手段。

苏格拉底只是说认清自己，但培根这里把认清自己变成了认清别人的一种工具。

子曰:“不患人之不己知,患不知人也.” 出自《论语·学而》

We must diligently inform ourselves of the particular persons we have to deal with—their tempers, desires, views, customs, habits;
我们必须努力地告诉自己“了解哪些与我们相处的人，了解他们的脾性、欲望、观念、习惯；

the assistances, helps and assurances whereon they principally rely, and whence they received their power;
了解他们需要什么辅助，帮助和依赖于保障，这是他们得势的根本原因；

their defects and weaknesses, whereat they chiefly lie open and are accessible;
了解他们主要的缺陷与弱点，他们什么时候是非常开放我们是可以接近的，这是他们可利用的方面.....

their friends, factions, patrons, dependents, enemies, enviers, rivals; their times and manners of access...
他们的朋友、背后的大哥、党羽、敌人、谁羡慕他、对手；什么时候能够去接近他......

But the surest key for unlocking the minds of others turns upon searching and sifting either their tempers and natures, or their ends and designs;
不过，打开别人心扉的最可靠钥匙，不但要找还要去筛选：摸透他们的脾气和天性、目标和规划。

观其言而察其行

and the more weak and simple are best judged by their temper, but the more prudent and close by their designs...
比较软弱与直爽的人，可以在他们的脾气上了解他们；比较慎重或保守的人，可以在他们的做事方法上了解他们。

But the shortest way to this whole inquiry rests upon three particulars; viz.—1. In procuring numerous friendships... 2. In observing a prudent mean and moderation between freedom of discourse and silence... But above all, nothing conduces more to the well-representing of a man's self, and securing his own right, than not to disarm one's self by too much sweetness and good-nature, which exposes a man to injuries and reproaches;
这一切调查的诀窍有三点：一是广交朋友；二是在心直口快与沉默寡言之间保持中庸;三更为重要的是相比这种很好的打扮自己展现自己或展现自己的权力，都不能很好的导出自己，不要过度的去暴露自己，不要别人对你甜言蜜语你就容易放松自己的警惕。这样会将自己暴露在伤害和批判之下。

（三更为重要的是恰当地表现自己的风度，但不放松自己的权利，要杜绝太多的善心使自己变得软弱，因为那只会使自己罹受伤害与耻辱。）

独处时守心 众人处守口

讷于言而敏于行

but rather... at times to dart out some sparks of a free and generous mind, that have no less of the sting than the honey.
但最终，最关键的是......不要放松自己，没有任何事情比展现自己的方式最好，一个人怎么表现自己的时候是最能观察他品质的。而是要投掷出去一些非常自由慷慨的火花，既暗藏毒针，也包裹蜜汁。

不要简单把自己展现自己，捍卫自己不重要。

不能放松自己的警惕，要有防人之性，反之，经常要闪烁出锋芒毕露的火花。

语言点

superstition: n. 迷信

naturalistic: adj. 自然主义的

unsuspected: adj. 未知的

vine: n. 葡萄树

vintage: n. 年份酒；年份香槟

preliminary: adj. 初级的

prudent: adj. 审慎的

disarm: vt. 解除武器

reproach: n. 批判