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关于道德的英语美文阅读

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  道德教育的根本任务,是在于影响人格,形成德性。目前在我国学校中的道德教育主要是知识性德育,出现了许多知行不一的现象,其原因之一是长期以来我们忽视了情感在道德教育中的价值和道德情感的培养。下面是学习啦小编带来的关于道德的英语美文阅读,欢迎阅读!

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇一

  Moral Issues

  美式道德

  Do Americans have any morals? That's a good question. Many people insist that ideas aboutright and wrong are merely personal opinions. Some voices, though, are calling Americans backto traditional moral values. William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education, edited TheBook of Virtues in 1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can buildcharacter. The success of Bennett's book shows that many Americans still believe in moralvalues. But what are they?

  美国人还有道德吗?这是个好问题。许多人坚持对与错乃是个人的意见。但是,还是有些人在呼唤美国人回到传统的道德价值里去。威廉.班奈特,前任美国教育部长,正是为了此目的而在一九九三年编辑了「美德」这本书。班奈特认为伟大的道德故事可以建造性格。班奈持这本书的成功显示了许多美国人仍然相信道德的价值。但是它们到底为何?

  To begin with, moral values in America are like those in any culture. In fact, many aspects ofmorality are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to eachculture. Not only that, but culture influences how people show these virtues.

  最开始,道德价值在美国就像在任何其它文化一样。事实上,许多道德的观点是全球一致的。但是,不同的文化则有不同的故事和传统来教导它们。不仅如此,文化也影响了人民如何表现这些美德。

  One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend aboutGeorge Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down hisfather's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him aboutit, George said, "I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet." Instead of punishment, Georgereceived praise for telling the truth. Sometimes American honesty-being open and direct-canoffend people. But Americans still believe that "honesty is the best policy."

  美国人最基本的道德价值之一是诚实。众所周知的乔治.华盛顿砍樱桃树的故事,即将此道德教导地极为清楚。小乔治在试他新斧头时砍倒了爸爸最心爱的樱桃树。当爸爸问他的时候,乔治说,「我不能说谎,我用我的斧头砍了它。」乔治非但未被惩罚,反而因为诚实而被赞赏。有时候美国人仍然相信「诚实是最上策」。

  Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop's fable about the turtleand the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. Butthe turtle finally won because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had toclimb a steep hill. The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it.But the train just kept pulling, all the while saying, "I think I can, I think I can." At last, the trainwas over the top of the hill. "I thought I could, I thought I could," chugged the happy littletrain.

  另外一个为美国人所尊崇的美德为坚忍。记得再龟兔赛跑这则伊索寓言吗?兔子以为牠可以赢的很轻松,便睡了个午觉,但是乌龟再最后终因不放弃而赢了这场比赛。另一个故事谈到一个必须爬过陡峭山头的小火车,山头是这么陡,以至于小火车很难爬上去,但是它仍不断地爬,并不停地说:「我想我能做到,我能做到。」最后,火车终于爬过了山头,「我就知道我可以。」这个快乐的小火车继续往前去。

  ompassion may be the queen of American virtues. The story of "The Good Samaritan" from theBible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan manfound a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kindSamaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. Compassion caneven turn into a positive cycle. In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to helpFloridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returnedthe favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnessesshown to them.

  同情心,可能是美国的道德之最了。圣经中的「好撒玛利亚人」的故事,描述一个流露同情心的人。在这个撒玛利亚人出发去某城市的途中,看到一个可怜的旅客躺在路旁。这旅客被鞭打、抢劫,这位仁慈的撒玛利亚人非但没有视而不见,反而停下来帮助这位有需要的人。同情心还可以变成一个正面循环,在一九九二年的秋天,爱荷华州的居民将好几辆卡车的水送到受飓风侵袭的佛罗里达州;而就在第二年夏天,当中西部闹水灾的时候,佛州人便投挑报李。数以百万计的美国人民正用较不醒目的方式回报人们向他们表达的善意。

  In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans. Courage,responsibility, loyalty, gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact, Bennett'sbestseller-over 800 pages-highlights just 10 virtues. Even Bennett admits that he has onlyscratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list, moral values are invaluable.They are the foundation of American culture-and any culture.

  在这么一篇短短的文章里,无论如何也不能将美国人所尊崇的道德述尽。勇气、责任心、忠诚、感激之心还有许多其它可以讨论的。事实上,班奈特最畅销的书──超过八百页──只谈到了十种美德。即使班奈特也承认他只谈到了皮毛而已。但是不论这张道德表是多长或短,道德价值都是无价的。他们是美国文化──和任何其它国家的文化之基础。

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇二

  道德困境

  Consider this situation,You are driving along on a wild,stormy night.

  考虑一下这个情景,你在一个狂风大作、暴雨倾盆之夜驾车行驶。

  You pass by a bus stop,where you see three people waiting:

  路过一个汽车站。你看见三个人在那儿等车:

  1.an elderly woman who is about to die.

  一个奄奄一息的老妇人

  2.an old friend who once saved your life.

  一个曾救你一命的老朋友

  3.the perfect mate you've been dreaming about.

  你一直梦想的完美伴侣。

  Which one would you choose, knowing there could only be one passenger in your car?

  你已经知道自己车中只能载一名乘客,你会选择谁呢?

  Should you save the elderly woman or take the old friend because he once saved your life?

  是应该拯救老妇人,还是因他救过你的命而载上你的老朋友呢?

  Either way, you may never find your perfect dream lover again!

  无论怎样,也许你再也找不到完美的梦中情人了。

  This quiz was given to 200 applicants for a single job.

  用这道题测试应征同一个工作的200名求职者。

  The one who was hired responded:

  最终获得这份工作的人是这样回答的:

  I would give the car keys to my friend and let him take the elderly woman to the hospital.

  我会把车钥匙交给我的朋友。

  Then I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams. Lying.

  让他送老妇人去医院。然后我留下来与我梦寐以求的女子一起等车。撒谎。

  Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you have to lie to people who trust you?

  有没有过这样的时候,你发现自己不得不向信任你的人撒谎?

  Do you mean lying to people for their good?

  你是说为了他们好才对他拉撒谎?

  Yes, Is it wrong to lie to them even if it is for their good?

  对。即使是为了别人好才撒谎也是不对的吗?

  It's hard to say. I mean. how can you judge what's good for them?

  这可难说,我是说。你怎么能判定什么是对他们好的呢?

  Maybe it is best to tell them the truth no matter what it is.

  无论事实如何,实言相告也许才是最好的办法。

  But sometimes it is so hard to tell the truth.

  但是有时候真话实在是太难说出口了。

  I know .If you're sure the truth will do harm.

  我知道。如果你确信实话会造成伤害的话,

  maybe you can choose not to tell it. Lying.

  也许你可以选择保持沉默。撒谎。

  Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you have to lie to people who trust you?

  有没有过这样的时候,你发现自己不得不向信任你的人撒谎?

  Do you mean lying to people for their good?

  你是说为了他们好才对他拉撒谎?

  Yes, Is it wrong to lie to them even if it is for their good?

  对。即使是为了别人好才撒谎也是不对的吗?

  It's hard to say. I mean. how can you judge what's good for them?

  这可难说,我是说。你怎么能判定什么是对他们好的呢?

  Maybe it is best to tell them the truth no matter what it is.

  无论事实如何,实言相告也许才是最好的办法。

  But sometimes it is so hard to tell the truth.

  但是有时候真话实在是太难说出口了。

  I know .If you're sure the truth will do harm.

  我知道。如果你确信实话会造成伤害的话,

  maybe you can choose not to tell it.

  也许你可以选择保持沉默。

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇三

  The psychology of morality.

  道德心理学。

  Time to be honest.

  诚实是需要时间的。

  A simple experiment suggests a way to encourage truthfulness.

  一个简单的实验却为我们提供了一种鼓励诚实的途径。

  "IS SIN original?" That is the question addressed by Shaul Shalvi, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, in a paper just published in Psychological Science. Dr Shalvi and his colleagues, Ori Eldar and Yoella Bereby-Meyer of Ben-Gurion University in Israel, wanted to know if the impulse to cheat is something that grows or diminishes when the potential cheater has time for reflection on his actions. Is cheating, in other words, instinctive or calculating?

  "人性本‘恶'?"这是由阿姆斯特丹大学的一位心理学家—— Shaul Shalvi,在《心理科学》杂志上发表的一篇论文中所提出的问题. Shalvi博士和他的两位同事——以色列Ben-Gurion大学的Ori Eldar 和 Yoella Bereby-Meyer,希望知道如果那些潜在的骗子有时间对他们的行为作出充分考虑,他们撒谎的冲动会否因此增强或减弱呢?换句话说,撒谎究竟是人的一种本能行为,还是经过仔细分析后所作出的选择呢?

  Appropriately, the researchers' apparatus for their experiment was that icon of sinful activity, the gambling die. They wanted to find out whether people were more likely to lie about the result of a die roll when asked that result immediately, or when given time to think.

  研究人员为他们的实验选择了一样合适的工具—骰子—罪恶活动的标志。他们想查明的是:人们是在摇骰后立即被询问其结果时容易撒谎呢,还是在他们获得一定的思考余地的时候呢?

  To carry out their experiment, Dr Shalvi, Dr Eldar and Dr Bereby-Meyer gave each of 76 volunteers a six-sided die and a cup. Participants were told that a number of them, chosen at random, would earn ten shekels (about

  道德教育的根本任务,是在于影响人格,形成德性。目前在我国学校中的道德教育主要是知识性德育,出现了许多知行不一的现象,其原因之一是长期以来我们忽视了情感在道德教育中的价值和道德情感的培养。下面是学习啦小编带来的关于道德的英语美文阅读,欢迎阅读!

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇一

  Moral Issues

  美式道德

  Do Americans have any morals? That's a good question. Many people insist that ideas aboutright and wrong are merely personal opinions. Some voices, though, are calling Americans backto traditional moral values. William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education, edited TheBook of Virtues in 1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can buildcharacter. The success of Bennett's book shows that many Americans still believe in moralvalues. But what are they?

  美国人还有道德吗?这是个好问题。许多人坚持对与错乃是个人的意见。但是,还是有些人在呼唤美国人回到传统的道德价值里去。威廉.班奈特,前任美国教育部长,正是为了此目的而在一九九三年编辑了「美德」这本书。班奈特认为伟大的道德故事可以建造性格。班奈持这本书的成功显示了许多美国人仍然相信道德的价值。但是它们到底为何?

  To begin with, moral values in America are like those in any culture. In fact, many aspects ofmorality are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to eachculture. Not only that, but culture influences how people show these virtues.

  最开始,道德价值在美国就像在任何其它文化一样。事实上,许多道德的观点是全球一致的。但是,不同的文化则有不同的故事和传统来教导它们。不仅如此,文化也影响了人民如何表现这些美德。

  One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend aboutGeorge Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down hisfather's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him aboutit, George said, "I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet." Instead of punishment, Georgereceived praise for telling the truth. Sometimes American honesty-being open and direct-canoffend people. But Americans still believe that "honesty is the best policy."

  美国人最基本的道德价值之一是诚实。众所周知的乔治.华盛顿砍樱桃树的故事,即将此道德教导地极为清楚。小乔治在试他新斧头时砍倒了爸爸最心爱的樱桃树。当爸爸问他的时候,乔治说,「我不能说谎,我用我的斧头砍了它。」乔治非但未被惩罚,反而因为诚实而被赞赏。有时候美国人仍然相信「诚实是最上策」。

  Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop's fable about the turtleand the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. Butthe turtle finally won because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had toclimb a steep hill. The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it.But the train just kept pulling, all the while saying, "I think I can, I think I can." At last, the trainwas over the top of the hill. "I thought I could, I thought I could," chugged the happy littletrain.

  另外一个为美国人所尊崇的美德为坚忍。记得再龟兔赛跑这则伊索寓言吗?兔子以为牠可以赢的很轻松,便睡了个午觉,但是乌龟再最后终因不放弃而赢了这场比赛。另一个故事谈到一个必须爬过陡峭山头的小火车,山头是这么陡,以至于小火车很难爬上去,但是它仍不断地爬,并不停地说:「我想我能做到,我能做到。」最后,火车终于爬过了山头,「我就知道我可以。」这个快乐的小火车继续往前去。

  ompassion may be the queen of American virtues. The story of "The Good Samaritan" from theBible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan manfound a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kindSamaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. Compassion caneven turn into a positive cycle. In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to helpFloridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returnedthe favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnessesshown to them.

  同情心,可能是美国的道德之最了。圣经中的「好撒玛利亚人」的故事,描述一个流露同情心的人。在这个撒玛利亚人出发去某城市的途中,看到一个可怜的旅客躺在路旁。这旅客被鞭打、抢劫,这位仁慈的撒玛利亚人非但没有视而不见,反而停下来帮助这位有需要的人。同情心还可以变成一个正面循环,在一九九二年的秋天,爱荷华州的居民将好几辆卡车的水送到受飓风侵袭的佛罗里达州;而就在第二年夏天,当中西部闹水灾的时候,佛州人便投挑报李。数以百万计的美国人民正用较不醒目的方式回报人们向他们表达的善意。

  In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans. Courage,responsibility, loyalty, gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact, Bennett'sbestseller-over 800 pages-highlights just 10 virtues. Even Bennett admits that he has onlyscratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list, moral values are invaluable.They are the foundation of American culture-and any culture.

  在这么一篇短短的文章里,无论如何也不能将美国人所尊崇的道德述尽。勇气、责任心、忠诚、感激之心还有许多其它可以讨论的。事实上,班奈特最畅销的书──超过八百页──只谈到了十种美德。即使班奈特也承认他只谈到了皮毛而已。但是不论这张道德表是多长或短,道德价值都是无价的。他们是美国文化──和任何其它国家的文化之基础。

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇二

  道德困境

  Consider this situation,You are driving along on a wild,stormy night.

  考虑一下这个情景,你在一个狂风大作、暴雨倾盆之夜驾车行驶。

  You pass by a bus stop,where you see three people waiting:

  路过一个汽车站。你看见三个人在那儿等车:

  1.an elderly woman who is about to die.

  一个奄奄一息的老妇人

  2.an old friend who once saved your life.

  一个曾救你一命的老朋友

  3.the perfect mate you've been dreaming about.

  你一直梦想的完美伴侣。

  Which one would you choose, knowing there could only be one passenger in your car?

  你已经知道自己车中只能载一名乘客,你会选择谁呢?

  Should you save the elderly woman or take the old friend because he once saved your life?

  是应该拯救老妇人,还是因他救过你的命而载上你的老朋友呢?

  Either way, you may never find your perfect dream lover again!

  无论怎样,也许你再也找不到完美的梦中情人了。

  This quiz was given to 200 applicants for a single job.

  用这道题测试应征同一个工作的200名求职者。

  The one who was hired responded:

  最终获得这份工作的人是这样回答的:

  I would give the car keys to my friend and let him take the elderly woman to the hospital.

  我会把车钥匙交给我的朋友。

  Then I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams. Lying.

  让他送老妇人去医院。然后我留下来与我梦寐以求的女子一起等车。撒谎。

  Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you have to lie to people who trust you?

  有没有过这样的时候,你发现自己不得不向信任你的人撒谎?

  Do you mean lying to people for their good?

  你是说为了他们好才对他拉撒谎?

  Yes, Is it wrong to lie to them even if it is for their good?

  对。即使是为了别人好才撒谎也是不对的吗?

  It's hard to say. I mean. how can you judge what's good for them?

  这可难说,我是说。你怎么能判定什么是对他们好的呢?

  Maybe it is best to tell them the truth no matter what it is.

  无论事实如何,实言相告也许才是最好的办法。

  But sometimes it is so hard to tell the truth.

  但是有时候真话实在是太难说出口了。

  I know .If you're sure the truth will do harm.

  我知道。如果你确信实话会造成伤害的话,

  maybe you can choose not to tell it. Lying.

  也许你可以选择保持沉默。撒谎。

  Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you have to lie to people who trust you?

  有没有过这样的时候,你发现自己不得不向信任你的人撒谎?

  Do you mean lying to people for their good?

  你是说为了他们好才对他拉撒谎?

  Yes, Is it wrong to lie to them even if it is for their good?

  对。即使是为了别人好才撒谎也是不对的吗?

  It's hard to say. I mean. how can you judge what's good for them?

  这可难说,我是说。你怎么能判定什么是对他们好的呢?

  Maybe it is best to tell them the truth no matter what it is.

  无论事实如何,实言相告也许才是最好的办法。

  But sometimes it is so hard to tell the truth.

  但是有时候真话实在是太难说出口了。

  I know .If you're sure the truth will do harm.

  我知道。如果你确信实话会造成伤害的话,

  maybe you can choose not to tell it.

  也许你可以选择保持沉默。

  关于道德的英语美文阅读篇三

  The psychology of morality.

  道德心理学。

  Time to be honest.

  诚实是需要时间的。

  A simple experiment suggests a way to encourage truthfulness.

  一个简单的实验却为我们提供了一种鼓励诚实的途径。

  "IS SIN original?" That is the question addressed by Shaul Shalvi, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, in a paper just published in Psychological Science. Dr Shalvi and his colleagues, Ori Eldar and Yoella Bereby-Meyer of Ben-Gurion University in Israel, wanted to know if the impulse to cheat is something that grows or diminishes when the potential cheater has time for reflection on his actions. Is cheating, in other words, instinctive or calculating?

  "人性本‘恶'?"这是由阿姆斯特丹大学的一位心理学家—— Shaul Shalvi,在《心理科学》杂志上发表的一篇论文中所提出的问题. Shalvi博士和他的两位同事——以色列Ben-Gurion大学的Ori Eldar 和 Yoella Bereby-Meyer,希望知道如果那些潜在的骗子有时间对他们的行为作出充分考虑,他们撒谎的冲动会否因此增强或减弱呢?换句话说,撒谎究竟是人的一种本能行为,还是经过仔细分析后所作出的选择呢?

  Appropriately, the researchers' apparatus for their experiment was that icon of sinful activity, the gambling die. They wanted to find out whether people were more likely to lie about the result of a die roll when asked that result immediately, or when given time to think.

  研究人员为他们的实验选择了一样合适的工具—骰子—罪恶活动的标志。他们想查明的是:人们是在摇骰后立即被询问其结果时容易撒谎呢,还是在他们获得一定的思考余地的时候呢?

  To carry out their experiment, Dr Shalvi, Dr Eldar and Dr Bereby-Meyer gave each of 76 volunteers a six-sided die and a cup. Participants were told that a number of them, chosen at random, would earn ten shekels (about $2.50) for each pip of the numeral they rolled on the die. They were then instructed to shake their cups, check the outcome of the rolled die and remember this roll. Next, they were asked to roll the die two more times, to satisfy themselves that it was not loaded, and, that done, to enter the result of the first roll on a computer terminal. Half of the participants were told to complete this procedure within 20 seconds while the others were given no time limit.

  实验前,Shalvi博士,Eldar博士和Bereby-Meyer博士给作为实验对象的76位志愿者每人发了一个摇盅和一粒骰子。参加者被告知他们中的一部分被随机抽选出来的,会依据其掷出的骰子点数而得到相应数目的奖励,每点10谢克尔(约合2.5美元)。接着他们便按照指示摇盅,开盅查看结果,记住点数。然后他们被要求多摇两次,以让自己确信骰子中没有被灌铅。最后,让他们自己在电脑终端里输入第一次所掷出的点数。有一半参加者被要求在20秒内完成整个实验流程,而另一半则没有时间限制。

  The researchers had no way of knowing what numbers participants actually rolled, of course. But they knew, statistically, that the average roll, if people reported honestly, should have been 3.5. This gave them a baseline from which to calculate participants' honesty. Those forced to enter their results within 20 seconds, the researchers found, reported a mean roll of 4.6. Those who were not under any time pressure reported a mean roll of 3.9. Both groups lied, then. But those who had had more time for reflection lied less.

  研究人员当然无法知晓每个参加者实际掷出点数。但他们知道,依照统计学规律,如果所有人都能做到如实上报点数,那么这次实验的平均掷出点数应为3.5。这就为研究人员提供了一个测量参加者诚实程度的依据。他们发现,那组被要求于20秒内输入结果的的参加者所上报的掷出点数平均值为4.6,而另外没有时间压力的参加者的为3.9.显然这两组人都撒谎了,不过在那些有充分时间进行考虑的参加者中撒谎的较少。

  A second experiment confirmed this result. A different bunch of volunteers were asked to roll the die just once. Again, half were put under time pressure and, since there were no additional rolls to make, the restriction was changed from 20 seconds to eight. The others were allowed to consider the matter for as long as they wished.

  第二次实验则验证了这一结果。这次是另一群不同的志愿者被要求掷骰子,不过只掷一次。同上次一样,他们中一半人被限制了时间,并且由于此次只需掷一次骰子,时间限制也从20s缩短为8s.其余一般则想考虑多久都行。

  In this case the first half reported an average roll of 4.4. Those given no time limit reported an average of 3.4. The second lot, in other words, actually told the truth.

  在这次实验中,前面有时间限制的一半人所上报点数的平均值为4.4,而没有时间限制的所上报的平均值为3.4。换言之,后者如实上报了数据。

  The conclusion, therefore, at least in the matter of cheating at dice, is that sin is indeed original. Without time for reflection, people will default to the mode labelled "cheat". Given such time, however, they will often do the right thing. If you want someone to be honest, then, do not press him too hard for an immediate decision.

  因此,得出的结论是——至少在此次摇骰作弊的案例中如此—"人性本‘恶'"。在缺少时间进行考虑的情况下,人们会进入默认的"撒谎"模式。然而,如果他们获得了那样的考虑时间,一般会作出道德上正确的选择。所以,如果你希望某人对你诚实,那么千万别逼迫他立即做出出决定啊

  
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.50) for each pip of the numeral they rolled on the die. They were then instructed to shake their cups, check the outcome of the rolled die and remember this roll. Next, they were asked to roll the die two more times, to satisfy themselves that it was not loaded, and, that done, to enter the result of the first roll on a computer terminal. Half of the participants were told to complete this procedure within 20 seconds while the others were given no time limit.

  实验前,Shalvi博士,Eldar博士和Bereby-Meyer博士给作为实验对象的76位志愿者每人发了一个摇盅和一粒骰子。参加者被告知他们中的一部分被随机抽选出来的,会依据其掷出的骰子点数而得到相应数目的奖励,每点10谢克尔(约合2.5美元)。接着他们便按照指示摇盅,开盅查看结果,记住点数。然后他们被要求多摇两次,以让自己确信骰子中没有被灌铅。最后,让他们自己在电脑终端里输入第一次所掷出的点数。有一半参加者被要求在20秒内完成整个实验流程,而另一半则没有时间限制。

  The researchers had no way of knowing what numbers participants actually rolled, of course. But they knew, statistically, that the average roll, if people reported honestly, should have been 3.5. This gave them a baseline from which to calculate participants' honesty. Those forced to enter their results within 20 seconds, the researchers found, reported a mean roll of 4.6. Those who were not under any time pressure reported a mean roll of 3.9. Both groups lied, then. But those who had had more time for reflection lied less.

  研究人员当然无法知晓每个参加者实际掷出点数。但他们知道,依照统计学规律,如果所有人都能做到如实上报点数,那么这次实验的平均掷出点数应为3.5。这就为研究人员提供了一个测量参加者诚实程度的依据。他们发现,那组被要求于20秒内输入结果的的参加者所上报的掷出点数平均值为4.6,而另外没有时间压力的参加者的为3.9.显然这两组人都撒谎了,不过在那些有充分时间进行考虑的参加者中撒谎的较少。

  A second experiment confirmed this result. A different bunch of volunteers were asked to roll the die just once. Again, half were put under time pressure and, since there were no additional rolls to make, the restriction was changed from 20 seconds to eight. The others were allowed to consider the matter for as long as they wished.

  第二次实验则验证了这一结果。这次是另一群不同的志愿者被要求掷骰子,不过只掷一次。同上次一样,他们中一半人被限制了时间,并且由于此次只需掷一次骰子,时间限制也从20s缩短为8s.其余一般则想考虑多久都行。

  In this case the first half reported an average roll of 4.4. Those given no time limit reported an average of 3.4. The second lot, in other words, actually told the truth.

  在这次实验中,前面有时间限制的一半人所上报点数的平均值为4.4,而没有时间限制的所上报的平均值为3.4。换言之,后者如实上报了数据。

  The conclusion, therefore, at least in the matter of cheating at dice, is that sin is indeed original. Without time for reflection, people will default to the mode labelled "cheat". Given such time, however, they will often do the right thing. If you want someone to be honest, then, do not press him too hard for an immediate decision.

  因此,得出的结论是——至少在此次摇骰作弊的案例中如此—"人性本‘恶'"。在缺少时间进行考虑的情况下,人们会进入默认的"撒谎"模式。然而,如果他们获得了那样的考虑时间,一般会作出道德上正确的选择。所以,如果你希望某人对你诚实,那么千万别逼迫他立即做出出决定啊

  
看了“关于道德的英语美文阅读”的人还看了:

1.好的英文美文

2.优秀英语晨读美文阅读

3.鼓舞人心的励志英语美文

4.经典英语双语美文阅读

5.英语经典美文:一生的收获

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