評論
打印
"The result we all see. The cube is at rest in a perfect state of equilibrium. Centrifugal force plus the gravity-resistant force within the material itself exactly equals the force of gravity. In a moment I shall prove my contention by lifting upward against the cube, thus giving it an impetus that will destroy its perfect balance and send it flying back intothe void from whence it came. Before I do so, does anyone question the accuracy of my hypothesis?"
“這一結果我們大家都看到了。這一立方體處于一種絕對的平衡狀態。離心力加上該物體內部的抗地球引力恰好與地球引力相等。我馬上就來證明我的觀點，只要把這一立方體往上一提，給它一個推動力來破壞它的絕對平衡，它就會飛回太空，從哪里來回到哪里去。在我這么做之前，有人對我的假說的精確性提出異議嗎?”
The various scientists present remained silent, but John Thomas said,"I don’t think it will fly away."
在場的各類專家都一言不發。但約翰·托馬斯說:“我認為它不會飛走。”
"Well,well," the president of the university said. "And why not, my little man?"
“是嗎，”大學校長說。“你說說它為什么不會飛走呢，我親愛的小男子漢?”
"Because my father hit it with a spade and it didn’t budge. "
“因為我爸用鐵鍬砸過它，而它卻一動也不動。”
The president reversed his field with a mental agility that no doubt had contributed to hisreputation as an administrator. "Exactly", he said. "What this boy has said exactly proves the point I was trying to make. When confronted with the unknown, it is idle to speculate,however rationally, without having first erected a sound foundation of fact. I shall now retire in favor of my colleagues of the physics and chemistry departments. When they have examined this object from every scientific aspect, we shall consult together and, in the light of known mathematical formulae, arrive at the correct description."
校長聽后馬上機靈地改變了他的立場。毫無疑問，這種隨機應變的本領曾幫助他成為一位聲名卓著的管理者。“正是，”他說。“這男孩所說的正好證明了我要說明的一個觀點。當我們面對未知的事物時，不先建立扎實的事實基礎而妄加推測是徒勞的，不管這種推測是多么合乎理性。現在我告退，讓我的物理系和化學系的同行上場。當他們從所有的科學角度對這一物體進行考察之后，我們再一起討論，并根據已知的數學公式對這一物體進行正確的描述。”
