《基础英语》课件 Unit 1 Thinking as a Hobby.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 1 Unit 1 Thinking as a Hobby William Golding I. Introduction to the Text Students who have been using this textbook must have noticed that each book begins with an essay about studies or education, and this one is no exception. The present text is about thinking, and thinking is important. Intelligent young students do not need to be told this. They know that linguistic competence is not just grammar and vocabulary. They know that they have learn to deal with more serious subjects and discuss more complex problems. They know a good liberal arts education must include good training in logical and critical thinking problems. The authors use of the word hobby is interesting. By using this word he means that thinking is not just for professional thinkers like philosophers. It is something all educated people should enjoy doing. This special interest is often referred to as “idle curiosity”, and it is considered one of the most precious qualities in young scholars. Students should play with ideas the way they play with balls. Both are important for their healthy development, one mental, and the other physical. The essay can be neatly divided into three parts. The first part tells us how the subject of thinking was first brought up to the author and how he came to understand the nature of what he calls grade-three thinking, which, he discovered, was no thinking at all, but a combination of ignorance, prejudice and hypocrisy. Unfortunately, according to the author, most people belong to this category. The second part deals with grade-two thinking. People who belong to this category can detect the contradictions of grade-three thinkers beliefs. They can see their ignorance, prejudice, hypocrisy and lack of logic, which gives them great delight and satisfies their ego. However, grade-two thinking has nothing constructive to offer. It destroys without the power to create. Therefore the satisfaction it brings the thinker is limited and does not last. The ans