大学思辨英语教程 精读3U7教师用书.docx

Unit7CyberspaceandHumanRelations

UnitOverview

Cyberspacehasbeencalledthelargestunregulatedanduncontrolleddomaininthehistoryofmankind,andisalsouniquebecauseitisadomaincreatedbypeoplevicethetraditionalphysicaldomains.Amongstindividualsoncyberspace,thereisbelievedtobeacodeofsharedrulesandethicsmutuallybeneficialforalltofollow,referredtoascyberethics.Manyviewtherighttoprivacyasmostimportanttoafunctionalcodeofcyberethics.

Thenewmediabecameanextensionofthetraditionalmediaonthecyberspace,allowingtothepublicaccessinformationinawiderangeofdigitaldevices.Inotherwords,itisaculturalvirtualizationofhumanrealityasaresultofthemigrationfromphysicaltovirtualspace,ruledbycodes,signsandparticularsocialrelationships.Newtechnologiesalsohelpto“connect”peoplefromdifferentculturesoutsidethevirtualspace,whatwasunthinkablefiftyyearsago.Inthisgiantrelationshipsweb,wemutuallyabsorbeachother’sbeliefs,customs,values,lawsandhabits,andculturallegacies.Thecorecharacteristicofcyberspaceisthatitoffersanenvironmentthatconsistsofmanyparticipantswiththeabilitytoaffectandinfluenceeachother.Therefore,cyberspaceisincreasinglyaffecting/changinghumanrelationshipsinreality.

TextA

In“HidingBehindtheScreen”,BritishphilosopherRogerScrutonexplorestheimpactofthecyberspaceonindividualsinmakingfriends,maintainingrelationshipsandengaginginvarioussocialactivities.Heexaminestheprosandconsofthecyberspacefromtheperspectivesofcontrol,freedom,fetishization,andalienation.Healsousesthetheoriesofclassicalphilosophersonhumanbeingsandfreedomtointerpretthedistortedhumanrelationshipsonthecyberspace.

TextB

In“MonstersinCyberspace:CyberphobiaandCulturalPanicintheInformationAge”,BarrySandwelldiscussesallthenegativeaspectsofthecyberspacetha