Professor Pedantic 教授的考究學問
TPS的編輯教授在此歡迎關於學術文章的所有詢問，當然，其實他並沒有足夠的時間給你。他擁有終身教職的教授身份，也是著名的學術巨作作者。即便如此，他仍大方地接受你們的詢問。將關於學術方面的詢問寫在下方，你將獲得教授的親自指導，陶冶對學術的探索與啟發。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: My literature instructor has assigned a paper on a literary period I have tried to avoid at all costs. I just can’t relate to it. What mind games do you play to get yourself into a subject you would just as soon skip?
我的教授要我寫關於某個時期的文學報告，然而，那卻是我極力避免碰觸的一個主題，因為我對相關內容毫無興趣與共鳴。有什麼辦法可以讓人改變心態，投入避之唯恐不及的領域呢？
It always is satisfying to come across someone who appreciates the rigorous sport of thinking. Not everyone understands that the intellectual life is a series of tough mind games. If one is disciplined in training for these games—staying mentally fit and constantly practicing fundamentals—a rise in the ranks of thinkers can happen quickly, from amateur to semi-professional to tenured superstar. Give me five!
思考訓練，是嚴格考驗自己的腦部運動，能遇到瞭解箇中美妙之人真是令人開懷。不是每個人都能體會，學術生活就是一連串艱辛的思考訓練活動。只要能有紀律地訓練自己—保持心智靈敏，不斷練習基本功—你便能快速地於眾多思想者中崛起，從初學者進階為半專業人士，最後成為擁有終身教職的學術權威。我們互相勉勵吧！
The particular mind game a scholar employs in the situation you describe is called curiosity. It is a mindset marked by inquisitiveness. Curious people tend to want to learn what they don’t know about a subject. They do not idly inquire after knowledge; rather, they are driven to know, and are willing to work to master a subject. Only then do they feel they can relax, having vanquished an unknown and been declared a victor over ignorance. Curiosity obviously isn’t for a lazy thinker; it requires constant whetting.
遇到這類的情況，學者們會運用一種心智遊戲，就是「好奇心」，特色就是激發自我求知慾。好奇的人通常會對不熟悉的主題希望知道更多，他們對待未探索知識的態度不是懶散的隨意對待，而是受到好奇心驅使，投注全身精力鑽研主題，直到征服未知領域後才願意收手。很顯然地，好奇心不適合懶散的思考者，因為好奇心需要不斷的磨鍊。
In really borrrring situations, such as when, say, a professor assigns an unpopular topic, perhaps a classical literary period, curiosity dramatically separates ordinary thinkers from A-teamers. The amateur thinker groans and wants to throw in the towel. The fit and agile thinker welcomes the challenge and starts stretching his mind in a new direction. Every writer of academic papers must decide where he fits on the spectrum of thinkers. If thinking and communicating your thoughts isn’t your game, pick another sport.
即便遇上自覺實在無聊至極的題目，例如古典文學之類並不熱門的主題時，好奇心可以明顯區隔出平凡的思考者與真正一流的思考家。不成熟的思考者會叫苦連天，立即放棄；靈活機敏的思考者則樂於接受挑戰，立即將心智往新的方向延伸與研究。所有學術論文的作者都應自我審視，自己是否屬於後者。如果樂在思考與傳達想法不是你的專長，那麼你應該選擇別的道路。
The professor awaits your query on academic writing, though in all honesty, he doesn’t have a lot of time for you. He is a tenured full professor and working on yet another magnificent academic tome. Even so, he has graciously consented to entertain your question. Submit it and prepare to be edified.
QUESTION: My literature instructor has assigned a paper on a literary period I have tried to avoid at all costs. I just can’t relate to it. What mind games do you play to get yourself into a subject you would just as soon skip?
我的教授要我寫關於某個時期的文學報告，然而，那卻是我極力避免碰觸的一個主題，因為我對相關內容毫無興趣與共鳴。有什麼辦法可以讓人改變心態，投入避之唯恐不及的領域呢？
It always is satisfying to come across someone who appreciates the rigorous sport of thinking. Not everyone understands that the intellectual life is a series of tough mind games. If one is disciplined in training for these games—staying mentally fit and constantly practicing fundamentals—a rise in the ranks of thinkers can happen quickly, from amateur to semi-professional to tenured superstar. Give me five!
思考訓練，是嚴格考驗自己的腦部運動，能遇到瞭解箇中美妙之人真是令人開懷。不是每個人都能體會，學術生活就是一連串艱辛的思考訓練活動。只要能有紀律地訓練自己—保持心智靈敏，不斷練習基本功—你便能快速地於眾多思想者中崛起，從初學者進階為半專業人士，最後成為擁有終身教職的學術權威。我們互相勉勵吧！
The particular mind game a scholar employs in the situation you describe is called curiosity. It is a mindset marked by inquisitiveness. Curious people tend to want to learn what they don’t know about a subject. They do not idly inquire after knowledge; rather, they are driven to know, and are willing to work to master a subject. Only then do they feel they can relax, having vanquished an unknown and been declared a victor over ignorance. Curiosity obviously isn’t for a lazy thinker; it requires constant whetting.
遇到這類的情況，學者們會運用一種心智遊戲，就是「好奇心」，特色就是激發自我求知慾。好奇的人通常會對不熟悉的主題希望知道更多，他們對待未探索知識的態度不是懶散的隨意對待，而是受到好奇心驅使，投注全身精力鑽研主題，直到征服未知領域後才願意收手。很顯然地，好奇心不適合懶散的思考者，因為好奇心需要不斷的磨鍊。
In really borrrring situations, such as when, say, a professor assigns an unpopular topic, perhaps a classical literary period, curiosity dramatically separates ordinary thinkers from A-teamers. The amateur thinker groans and wants to throw in the towel. The fit and agile thinker welcomes the challenge and starts stretching his mind in a new direction. Every writer of academic papers must decide where he fits on the spectrum of thinkers. If thinking and communicating your thoughts isn’t your game, pick another sport.
即便遇上自覺實在無聊至極的題目，例如古典文學之類並不熱門的主題時，好奇心可以明顯區隔出平凡的思考者與真正一流的思考家。不成熟的思考者會叫苦連天，立即放棄；靈活機敏的思考者則樂於接受挑戰，立即將心智往新的方向延伸與研究。所有學術論文的作者都應自我審視，自己是否屬於後者。如果樂在思考與傳達想法不是你的專長，那麼你應該選擇別的道路。
Posted at 2011-05-18 16:45:42
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