Philogamer

The search of scientific literacy

2011-12-02T02:47:00.001-08:00

Recently, I discussed questioning skill and scientific literacy with my friends. It could be too easy to form questions. It may not help improving the skills by simply repeating the task. Learning by example is an easy approach but it still requires proper comparison. Teacher comment helps students to understand the underlying principle.

How can we formulate learning path on questioning skill?

The ultimate goal is to find the answer. A pool of organized questions may form a decision tree. It helps us to verify the sources and also to drill down reason of problem. It also determines the principles of design of experiment. Thus becomes the core of scientific literacy.

Literacy

2011-08-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Literacy means the ability to read and write in the past. This traditional idea has extended to other aspects or context.

For example, scientific literacy means the ability to understand scientific concept, evaluate scientific information, identify issues in scientific articles, search the answer to scientific questions, predict scientific phenomenon and estimate the impact to the society.

Information literacy means the ability to accesses information efficiently and effectively, evaluates information critically and competently, uses information accurately and creatively.

Media literacy means the ability to understand the nature and application of media, evaluate media information, search the answer to questions on media usage, predict the phenomenon in media usage and estimate the impact to human recognition.

Cultural literacy means the ability to understand the nature and history of culture, understand the meaning, origin and application of symbol, language and practice, search the answer to cultural issues, predict cultural phenomenon and estimate challenges to the exist culture.

We may generalize the concept of literacy into 4 main parts:

Recognition and taxonomy:

understand concept and mechanism
analyze materials critically

abductive reasoning:

evaluate problems and issues from articles
search the answer to questions

deductive reasoning:

predict the result
estimate the impact to the aspect concern and other aspects
evaluate proposed actions critically

inductive reasoning:

search and verify the principles and rules

誠信不是道德審判

2010-12-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

看過評論任亮憲的文章，就越看越糊塗，"誠信不是道德審判＂是什麼意思？

審判是一個過程，一個根據價值觀來衡量有關人和事的過程。誠信是人的特質，也是一個價值觀。道德卻是一套價值觀加上行為的準則，因為道德不是光說而是需要行動落實。一個真正屬於自己的道德是需要相信和實踐。

誠信不是道德審判，可看作（一個價值觀）不是（一個過程）。雖然是真，但無法理解。

誠信是不是道德？如果數集分析，一個價值觀不等於一套價值觀，所以誠信不等於道德（的全部），而是屬於道德的範疇。

既然如此，道德審判可以審判有關人士的誠信。誠信審判與道德審判能否分開？要點有兩個。

其一在於審判的焦點，對事還是對人。對事，則可看他在這事情上是否講大話。可是到現在，沒有證據指出他講大話。他說的都是無法核實。他的牌照問題，婚姻狀況問題則不在考慮之列。如果對人，則要全面看他過去的所作所為。

其二在於誠信與道德會否出現矛盾的組合。身為公眾人物，面對公眾，在公共領域中要有道德。在這個領域的道德可稱為公德。問題就在公眾人物在私人領域內的道德－私德應否在審判範圍？簡單來說，是否因為私人領域不影響公共領域而忽略私德問題？從人格看，除非人格分裂，一個人在兩個領域的人格應該連貫。不能單就領域來分野，而要看私德問題有否與公德問題有關。按照常理，公眾人物需要公信力，在公共領域要有誠信，如同在私人領域要有誠信。因此，一個有道德的公眾人物就要有誠信。誠信審判與道德審判是不能分開。反證，則如果在私人領域沒有誠信，則有理由懷疑在公共領域沒有誠信，則可懷疑公眾人物的道德。另一方面，除了言語誠信外，也可從兩個領域內行為是否一致來判斷行為誠信。

除了誠信，侵犯女性也在道德審判之列。如果這個案件內情屬實，則有理由懷疑在公共領域也不尊重女性。在追求男女平等的社會，能夠容納這種公眾人物嗎？看來不是。

建議的盲點

2010-12-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

人類越來越依賴電腦生活，因為電腦能夠根據現在的環境來計算理想的方案，商業上有決策系統，生活上有智能交通導航，投資上有技術分析。

大家所使用的電腦系統，演算方式分別不大，能建議的分別不大，於是大家會選擇的分別也不大。到頭來，大家一起下了類似的決定，商業競爭便以脈衝方式出現，道路流量以脈衝方式出現，股票市場也變得更波動。

這個盲點不會得到有效的解決，只會隨著資訊流通速度增加而惡化。

思考的胡同

2010-10-18T23:20:00.000-07:00

有時候，道聽塗說，看似有理由，推論合理，但後來發現又不怎麼樣一回事。可能是我們忽略了其他方面的考慮。以為只有if a then b，其實還有if c then b。那麼我們得到結論可以差很遠。

別以為考上大學就只是為了將來的收入。只是從將來的收入來衡量是否上大學，總會得到不上大學的結論。

如果我們考慮讀大學會擴展視野，改進自己的思想，情況便有很大的不同，會得到要讀大學的結論。

這樣問題就變成我們要考慮多少，才是完備的考慮。

遊戲趨勢

2010-04-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

近來越來越多免月費的網上遊戲。難道遊戲商用廣告來增加收入？非也。全靠售買遊戲虛擬物品來讓玩家增加自己的優勢。

於是，遊戲越來越容易玩，玩得越來越費時。有錢玩家可以加快升級速度，窮玩家只可以等。慢慢造成了遊戲空間的貧富懸殊。

嚴正聲明

2010-01-24T05:29:00.000-08:00

哲遊人乃本人－飛馬眾多部落格之一，以哲學和遊戲為主。在香港yahoo及新浪的飛馬傳說都是本人的部落格，作為保存文章副本，即電腦術語的鏡象網站。

中國哲學家:馮友蘭(5)

2008-11-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

馮友蘭抵達美國的時候，正值總統選舉。他發現當地的選舉是間接選舉而不是直接選舉，雖然形式不同，但選舉代表只可以向指定總統候選人投票，實際上跟直接選舉無分別。馮友蘭聯想到中國的換湯不換藥（形式主義），美國卻換藥不換湯（實際主義）。

後來馮友蘭知道中國五位大臣也到了美國。有一個中國資本家名叫穆藕初，在第一次世界大戰期間辦紡織業發了大財，他捐了一筆款給北大，叫送五個五四運動中的學生領袖出國留學，所給的費用，比一般官費學生都多。馮友蘭們那時候的官費是每人每月九十美元，穆藕初給的費用是每人每月一百二十美元。北大選出了五個人：段錫朋、羅家倫、周炳琳、康白情、汪敬熙。當時稱為北大"五大臣出洋"。清朝末年曾經派五位大員出國考察憲政，時稱"五大臣出洋"。

段錫朋和周炳琳都在紐約上了哥倫比亞研究院。羅家倫上了普林斯頓大學研究院。兩下距離不遠，羅家倫一有空就到紐約來。在當時的中國留學生中，顯然有兩大派。一派就是對於中國的東西知道得比較多一點，對於中國政治和世界局勢比較關心。缺點是英文比較差，社交比較差，穿戴比較隨便，以北京大學畢業的人為典型。一派就是不僅專業學得好，英語也流利，社交活躍，衣冠整齊，但對於中國的東西知道得比較少，對於政治不大感興趣。這一派以清華畢業的人為典型。

當時馮友蘭想要得個博士。他的想法是，學校所規定的那些要求，就是一個學習方案，它所以那樣規定，總有一個道理。照著那個方案學習，總比沒有計劃，隨便亂抓，要好一點。

可是到了上學最後一年，負責寄出學費與生活費的官員出問題，逼於無奈自覓謀生路徑。讓馮友蘭明白經濟獨立才是自由獨立的基礎。

馮友蘭曾向哥倫比亞大學請求過獎學金。杜威先生給馮友蘭寫了一封推薦信。最然這個請求沒有成功，但他們也給了他一個閒差事，任務是管圖書館裡面的中國報紙，工資每月八元。圖書館也訂了幾份中國報紙。

和西方文化有了直接的接觸，文化矛盾的問題對於馮友蘭更加突出。那時正是美國在第一次世界大戰勝利後的繁榮時期，西方的富強和中國的貧弱，更成了鮮明對比。當時馮友蘭經常考慮的問題是：自從中國與西方接觸以來，中國節節失敗，其原因究竟在哪裡？西方為什麼富強？中國為什麼貧弱？西方同中國比較起來，究竟在哪些根本之點上比較優越？

馮友蘭當時思考的結果，自以為是得到一個答案。西方的優點，在於其有了近代自然科學。這是西方富強的根源。中國貧弱的根源是中國沒有近代自然科學。可是問題又來了。中國為什麼沒有近代自然科學呢？是為之而不能，或是能之而不為？當然馮友蘭認為是能之而不為。為什麼不為呢？當時馮友蘭認為，這應該在中國哲學中尋找答案。

為了尋找這一答案，馮友蘭寫了一篇文章，題目是《中國為何無科學--對於中國哲學之歷史及其結果之一解釋》，馮友蘭在哥倫比亞大學哲學系的討論會中宣讀過這篇論文，後來又發表在《國際倫理學雜誌》（三十二卷三號，1922年4月）上。

這篇論文的大概意思是：中國所以沒有近代自然科學，是因為中國的哲學向來認為，人應該求幸福於內心，不應該向外界尋求幸福。近代科學的作用不外兩種，一種是求認識自然界的知識，另一種是求統治自然界的權力。西方近代哲學的一個創始人笛卡兒說："知識是確切。"另一位創始人培根說："知識是權力。"這兩句話所說的就是這兩種作用。如果有人僅只是求幸福於內心，也就用不著控制自然界的權力，也用不著認識自然界的確切的知識。

這種說法，實際上就是當時流行的一種說法，認為東方的文明是"精神文明"，西方的文明是"物質文明"。自從西方進入資本主義社會以後，世界上的局面是"西方控制東方，城市控制鄉村"（見馬克思《共產黨宣言》）。東方的人說，東方雖然被壓倒了，但是它的"精神文明"還是優於西方的。這是一種自馮友蘭解嘲之辭。

當時印度的泰戈爾(Tagore)正在美國訪問，到紐約講演。馮友蘭去找他，談了一個晚上。他所談的話大意也是講"精神文明"。有人給馮友蘭開玩笑說，他肯同你談話，這就是"精神文明"。如果照"物質文明"，他要向你要報酬。馮友蘭把他的這個談話記錄下來，發表於《新潮》三卷一號。

雖然有這些情況，但是馮友蘭當時認為，馮友蘭的看法，是馮友蘭自己得來的，有自己的特點。特點是打破所謂東、西的界限。當時馮友蘭認為，向內和向外兩派的對立，並不是東方與西方的對立。人的思想都是一樣的，不分東方與西方。上邊所說的那種對立，是東方哲學和西方哲學之中都有的。馮友蘭把中國哲學史和西方哲學史聯合起來，選出一些哲學家作為代表，以為說明。這實際上是一種中西哲學史比較研究的工作。

這個研究的成果，馮友蘭寫成一部書，當時名為《天人損益論》，是用英文寫的。書於1923年寫成，作為馮友蘭在哥倫比亞大學研究院畢業的博士論文。這個英文本在1924年由上海商務印書館出版。出版時改名為《人生理想之比較研究》。後來商務印書館要為當時的高級中學出版一部人生哲學教科書，約馮友蘭把這本書的內容用中文寫出來，名為《人生哲學》。這部《人生哲學》實際上就是《人生理想之比較研究》的中文本，於1926年出版。

在這部書的《緒論》中，馮友蘭把這部書的主要思想做了一個概括的敘述。馮友蘭認為人所經驗之事物，不外天然的及人為的兩類。自生自滅，無待於人，是天然之物。人為的事物，其存在必待於人，與天然的事物恰恰相反。實際的世界，有好亦有不好；實際的人生，有苦亦有樂。此為事實，無人不知。

馮友蘭此後著作不斷，研究不斷，究竟在美國的發展如何如何？

中國哲學家:馮友蘭(4)

2008-10-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

1918 年馮友蘭在北京大學畢業了並且和任載坤結婚。載坤字叔明，是辛亥革命的前輩任芝銘先生的第三個女兒。任芝銘先生是清朝的舉人，但是他反對清朝，在他的本縣新蔡縣反抗縣官，還組織人劫獄，因此他的舉人被革了，還受通緝，長期不能在家。他沒有兒子，只有六個女兒。他在河南最先提倡婦女解放，叫她的女兒們都放腳，並送她們到外邊上學。他的大女兒馥坤，二女兒緯坤（後改名任銳），都在清朝末年就在北京進了北京女子師範學校，任緯坤當時就參加了革命工作，在進步報館裡做事，和孫炳文相識。孫炳文是四川人，當時在北京京師大學堂預科上學。他們二人不要"父母之命，媒妁之言"，自由戀愛，自由結婚，在當時是一種創舉，也受到許多的誹謗。

孫炳文，字浚明，1885年（清光緒11年）出生於四川省南溪縣的城郊魏家山。有兄弟姐妹十一人，孫炳文排行第九。父步蟾，務農為業，家貧寒，生計艱難，常求助於親友。他有個富紳之家的姐夫為富不仁，偶有求助，輒遭拒斥。孫炳文屢受其辱，因而對之深惡痛絕，並由此對貧富不均的封建社會萌發出不滿情緒。

後來孫炳文烈士於第一次國共合作分裂時犧牲。任載坤於民國初年進了北京女子師範學校。馮友蘭在上海上學的時候，有個同學是任芝銘先生的學生，介紹馮友蘭與載坤訂婚。馮友蘭也不知道他向任芝銘先生怎麼說的，一去信就得到回信，表示同意。馮友蘭也寫信回家告訴母親，母親也同意了。這一點也可以見母親的開明。對任緯坤的一些誹謗之詞，也傳到她耳中，可是她向來主張女子要讀書，願意有一個讀書的兒媳婦，就毅然同意了。

就在這個暑假，景蘭上美國留學去了。當時軍閥混戰，各省的財政都很困難，教育經費尤其困難。當時河南設有一個"教育款產經理處"，由教育界推人出來自己管理，出入都不經過財政廳。河南的教育界有了錢，就想多辦點事。他們認為，河南出的人才太少，要有個辦法多出人才。辦法是在開封辦了一個"留學歐美預備學校"，招收學生，畢業以後，由河南用官費把他們送出去留學。到1918年，第一批學生畢業，河南省決定送二十名到歐洲或美國留學。別的學校的學生，很有意見，說留學預備學校也無非是中學程度，為什麼這個學校的學生畢業以後官費留學，而別的中學畢業的學生就不可以？為了平息這種意見，河南教育當局決定，再公開招考二十名，同留學歐美預備學校畢業的學生一起出去留學。那時候景蘭在北京大學預科上學，就報名應試，他的專業是地質學。馮友蘭不能報名，因為那一批留學限定要專學理工科。1918年夏天，景蘭就往美國去了，母親先是捨不得，後來也同意了。

河南在民國元年已經送出去過一批到歐美的留學生，馮友蘭在開封的時候那批人陸續回來了，所以那一批的名額中也出了缺額。當時的教育部把各省民國元年送留學生的名額都收為教育部的名額，錢還是由各省自己出，不過原來是哪一省的名額，仍由那一省的人補缺，補缺的兩次考試，第一次由那一省自己主持；第二次由教育部主持，作為複試，複試及格才算錄取。1919年河南出了一個缺，並把這個缺定為哲學，馮友蘭考取了初試，又到北京來複試，也通過了，於是也取得了出國留學的資格。恰好五四運動的一個學生領袖傅斯年，也來到教育部應試，他是1919年在北大中文系畢業，來考山東的官費的，他也通過了。他打算往英國，約馮友蘭一同去，馮友蘭因為母親願意馮友蘭弟兄兩個都在美國，於是就跟傅斯年分手了。大約在9、10月間由開封到上海。當時有一部分在美國的華僑，辦了一個"中國郵船公司"，有兩隻船，一隻叫"中國"，比較小一點，一隻叫"南京"，比較大一點。這個公司以愛國主義相號召，說中國人要坐中國船。他們決定坐這個公司的船，而且要坐"南京"號，因為這隻船比較大。可是在他們到上海的時候，"南京"號已經開了，他們沒有趕上，要坐"南京"號只好等待下一次航行。他們就住在上海等，終於坐上了"南京"號，於12月到紐約，上了哥倫比亞大學的研究院。

究竟馮友蘭面對陌生的環境如何自處呢？研究院為他的哲學帶來什麼衝擊呢？下回分解。

(參考資料:馮友蘭自述)

中國哲學家:馮友蘭(3)

2008-10-16T00:58:00.002-07:00

中國公學原來定有一個開學日期。他們這二十人在開封考試以後，就趕往上海，如期報到。校舍在吳淞砲台灣。校舍是一座按當時標準說相當漂亮的洋樓，單獨地建築在砲台灣車站附近，四周並無居民。電燈也是自己發電。他們到的時候，學校並沒有開學，只有一座空校舍，連一個主要的職員都沒有。他們既然到了，就只好搬進去住。漸漸地有些主要職員來了。到了民國二年春天，終於開學了。校長黃興沒有露過一次面。教師都是上海別的學校的教師來兼課，到了上課時間才坐著火車來，下課就又坐著火車走了。

住在校舍，四無鄰居，閒了到江邊走走，倒也覺得有點像世外桃源。友蘭只是喜歡到河南路棋盤街那一帶，那裡書店很多，友蘭喜歡買書，那二百兩銀子花不完就買書，也買了一些大部頭的書，如"廿四史"之類。

1915年暑假，就算是大學預科畢業了。就在上海考入了北京大學，暑假後進北京大學。

北大當時的學生，在學習上是自由極了。本系功課表上的課，學生不愛上就不上；別系的課，愛上就去上。教師那裡沒有點名冊，從來不點名。學生要上哪一課，只須在上課時到課堂上坐下就行了。就是與北大毫無關係的人，也可以進去聽講。在上課之前，有一個人站在課堂門口，手裡拿一堆油印的講稿，當時稱為講義，進來一個人，就發給他一份，從來不問他是誰。往往有不應該上這個課的人先到，把講義都拿完了；應該上這個課的人來了倒得不到講義。可是從來也沒有因此發生爭執，後來的人只怨自家來得太晚。

當時北大中國文學系，有一位很叫座的名教授，叫黃侃。他在課堂上講《文選》和《文心雕龍》，這些書友蘭從前連名字也不知道。黃侃善於念詩念文章，他講完一篇文章或一首詩，就高聲念一遍，聽起來抑揚頓挫，很好聽。他念的時候，下邊的聽眾都高聲跟著念，當時稱為"黃調"。在當時宿舍中，到晚上各處都可以聽到"黃調"。黃侃也常出題叫學生作詩。有一個本系的學生不會作詩，就叫友蘭替他作。友蘭作了幾首擬《古詩十九首》的詩，他抄好送給黃侃，黃也居然加圈加點，還寫了讚賞的批語。

友蘭的這種課外學習，倒是在友蘭家裡發生了作用，那就是友蘭把他的一知半解傳授給友蘭的妹妹沅君，引她走上了文學的道路。自從他們從崇陽回老家以後，沅君就不上學了。友蘭從北大放假回家，在家中也常念詩念文章，沅君聽了很愛慕，就叫友蘭教她。友蘭照著黃侃的路數，選了些詩文，給她講，教她念。她真是聰明絕頂，在一個暑假的很短時間內就學會了，不但會講會念，而且會寫，居然能寫出像六朝小賦那樣的小品文章。等到友蘭第二次暑假回家，沅君的學問就更大了。北京傳來消息，說是北京女子師範學校要招國文專修科。這個學校是當時北京女學的最高學府。他們都主張叫沅君去應考。

在暑假快結束的時候，友蘭母親就毅然決然，不顧別人議論，讓友蘭和景蘭、沅君三人一同進京。到北京報考，果然考上了，於是沅君就開始走上了文學創作和學術研究的道路。他們三個人會走一條怎樣的路呢？下回分解。

(參考資料:馮友蘭自述)

中國哲學家:馮友蘭(2)

2008-10-16T00:58:00.001-07:00

按當時清朝所定的學校制度，在縣城裡設小學，在省城裡設高等學堂，在北京設京師大學堂。學校分為這三級，恰好原來科舉功名也有三級：縣一級的功名是秀才，省一級的功名是舉人，中央一級的功名是進士。成了進士，就算是登入仕途，可以做官了。把這兩個三級折合起來，縣裡小學畢業就相當於秀才，省裡高等學堂畢業就等於舉人，在京師大學堂畢業就等於進士。

可是，當時的小學沒有教科書，每門功課都由教員自己弄些材料，上堂講，學生記，在黑板上寫，學生抄。後來也弄來一架油印機，有些課用油印機把教材印出來，學生免得抄寫，覺得很方便。可是省裡又來了通知，說是在學生畢業的時候，學生們都得交上他們親手抄寫的教材，油印的教材不能承認，不承認就不能畢業。那些快要畢業的學生們，都慌了手腳，趕抄以前發的油印教材。日夜不停地抄。有的請人代抄。四哥還叫馮友蘭抄了好幾本。不過最後終於都畢業了。伯父就考慮四哥上開封升學的問題。馮友蘭的堂兄大哥、二哥當時都已經在開封上學。大哥上的是優級師範，二哥上的是中州公學的法政專科。當時民間辦的學校，一般稱為公學。

公學是相對於清政府的官辦學校而言的。當時的老百姓對於清朝政府已經不信任，一般都認為，民間辦的學校，都比官辦的好。這個中州公學，確實是當時河南的一些比較進步的紳士所辦的。它除了法政班之外，還設有中學班，中學班恰好在年假後招新生。高小畢業，或有同等學力的人，都可以報考。伯父決定叫四哥去報考。大哥、二哥向馮友蘭母親說，說馮友蘭也應該去。母親也同意了。

過了新年，大哥、二哥、四哥和馮友蘭四個人，還有些別的同學，一同起身往開封。先坐馬車到駐馬店去坐火車。當時從北京到漢口的火車，夜間不走，從北京到漢口要走三天。第一天由北京走到彰德，就停下了。旅客們都要拖帶著行李下車住旅館，等第二天再上車繼續前進。第二天，從彰德走到駐馬店，又停下來，旅客們又折騰一番，到第三天才到漢口。

他們要投考的中州公學的中學班設在開封南關外，據說是從前的一個書院。考試又分為初試和復試兩次。馮友蘭初試考了第二名，復試第一名。四哥和其他高小畢業的人都落在後邊，當時馮友蘭自己也有點驚奇。中州公學的監督是楊源懋，他的官銜是翰林院編修，在開封以紳士資格辦中州公學。楊不常到學校來，也沒有和學生講過話。不過所請的教員都是有比較進步的思想的人，據說有些人還是同盟會的人。當時馮友蘭感覺這個中州公學好像是同盟會在河南的一個機關，因此學生們對於楊都很敬佩。那一年正好是1911年。[1]

辛亥革命就開始了，武昌起義一舉成功。清朝政府驚慌得不知所措，派陸軍部尚書蔭昌率新軍前往鎮壓。各學校的學生都紛紛回家，大哥、二哥說，馮友蘭們也以回家為好，怕的是將來路不通，家裡接濟不到。在開封雇馬車，途經朱仙鎮，最後回到了唐河縣城，跟著三個堂兄先回祁儀鎮。

南陽鎮總兵一聽到革命軍就溜了，南陽、唐河這一帶就"光復"了。在清朝末年，實行了一些新政，往往用了些本地紳士，當時的總督張之洞要派一批人到日本學法政，有不少的官，跑到日本去住幾個月，回原籍就轉為紳了。

中華民國成立了。馮友蘭於民國元年春天又到開封中州公學上學，可是從楊源懋去世以後，學校大不如前，教師的陣容也不整齊。湖北有個紳士名叫陳時，說他奉父命捐款在武昌辦了一所學校，叫"中華學校"，以黎元洪為校長。

在中華學校不久，又聽說上海中國公學要招生了。這所學校倒有一段光榮歷史。在日本的中國留學生，有一次不滿意日本政府對中國學生的待遇，集體回國，自辦學校，名為"中國公學 "。創辦的時候，也出了一個有名的學生，就是胡適。在辛亥革命的時候，中國公學也停辦了。這時候中國公學又恢復招生，推舉黃興為校長。用黃興的名義向各省發出電報，叫各省選派學生。河南省很重視這件事，決定選拔二十名學生，到上海中國公學上學，每人每年發官費二百兩銀子。河南省決定以後，發出通告在開封招考。馮友蘭同幾個同學回到開封應試，被錄取了，馮友蘭就於民國元年的冬天同其餘十九人一起到上海，進中國公學。

馮友蘭在上海將會遇到什麼重大事情呢？下回分解。

(資料來源:馮友蘭自述,鄭州市人民政府駐北京聯絡處, 圖片:wikipedia)

中國哲學家:馮友蘭(1)

2008-10-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

馮友蘭於1895年12月4日出生，字芝生，當代著名哲學家及教育家。

幼年住在河南省唐河縣祁儀鎮祖父的家裡。祖父名玉文，字聖徵，有三個兒子．父親行二，名台異，字樹侯。伯父名雲異，字鶴亭。

叔父名漢異，字爽亭。父親後來成了清光緒（1898年）科進士。伯父、叔父都是秀才。在祖父教育下，馮友蘭就生活在這個書香之家。

祖父曾經去考過秀才，本來是可以錄取的，但不肯疏通，就沒有錄取。祖父從此就不再去應試了，一生沒有取得任何功名。可是他的詩作得很好，傳下來的幾十首詩，編為《梅村詩稿》。

伯父也能作詩，他把他自己的詩編為《知非齋詩集》。父親也能作詩，有《復齋詩集》。馮友蘭的一個姑母也能作詩，可惜十幾歲就去世了，留下的詩，家裡的人編為《梅花窗詩草》。

祖父大概有一千五百畝土地，不算大地主。在清朝末年，大地主有兩萬多畝土地。有幾千畝土地的地主很不少。

當時男孩子從七歲起上學，家裡請一個先生，教這些孩子讀書。女孩子七歲以後，也同男孩子一起上學，過了十歲就不上學了。首先讀《三字經》，再讀《論語》，接著讀《孟子》，最後讀《大學》和《中庸》。一本書必須從頭背到尾，才算讀完，叫做"包本"。

當時一般的私塾，叫學生讀一些記誦典故和詞藻以備作八股文、試帖詩之用的書，如《幼學瓊林》、《龍文鞭影》之類，但是馮友蘭的私塾中倒讀過一本新出的書，叫做《地球韻言》，這是一種講地理的普及讀物。

他的父親成進士以後，以知縣任用，分發到省裡去。當時以捐官指省的辦法，分發到湖北。光緒三十年，他父親終於在武昌擔任會計庶務委員（相當於後來的總務長），於是移居到武昌。

那時候，在武昌做兩湖總督的是張之洞，他辦了一些洋務，一些新政，其中有一樣是辦新式教育，在武昌辦了一所外語學校，叫"方言學堂"。他父親很重視學外文，所以希望他將來上方言學堂了。

因為他父親相信，在學新知識以前，必須先把中文學好，如果沒有一個相當好的中文底子，學什麼都不行。因此決定叫母親在家監督馮友蘭讀書。不久便讀完了《書經》、《易經》和《左傳》。他父親還教馮友蘭唱《學堂歌》。《學堂歌》是張之洞作的，用的是楚國的調子－《成相》。

光緒三十三年，他父親到崇陽當縣官，聘請了教讀師爺教授馮友蘭古文、算術、寫字、作文。古文讀本是吳汝綸所選的《桐城吳氏古文讀本》，一開頭就是賈誼的《過秦論》。馮友蘭在休息的時候在簽押房喜愛翻看《外交報》，因為其中發表的文章都是講世界知識和國際情況。

當年縣立的高等小學確實與以前的縣學有相似之處。照明清兩代的教育制度，每縣都有一個縣學。縣學有兩個官員，負責縣學的事，一個叫"教諭"，一個叫"訓導"，統稱為老師。考秀才就是這個縣學招生的入學考試。考上以後成為秀才，秀才是縣學的學生的名稱。從前稱考上秀才為"進學"，進學也不是縣官和老師所能決定，還得經過學台的復試，最後才能成為秀才，成為縣學中的正式學生，所以他們見縣官自稱為"生員"。秀才之中有些稱為"廩生"，每年可以得到一定的津貼，這就等於公費或獎學金。縣學招生了，伯父主張馮友蘭與馮景蘭去報名，只考了一篇策論式的文章，便考進了學堂。

考進了學堂之後，馮友蘭會遇到什麼有趣的事情呢？下回分解。

(資料來源:馮友蘭自述)

Google Founder - Sergey Brin

2008-08-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is power

2008-08-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that knowledge is power. Who gets right information in hand can take action earlier in a right way. It is true in investment market and human resources market.

When we think about knowledge and information, the authors deserve their own right for generation of such treasure. Protection of authors' interest is the one of the key principles of copyright. However, if we think in another way, say the users of information, they can only reach it when copyright is resolved. Many precious things are not released due to copyright issue.

In certain sense, copyright becomes an obstacle of information and knowledge flow. Creative Commons becomes an important tool for authors to share, mix and reuse materials legally. It is different from copyright and public domain. Public domain means that there is no rights reserved for the materials under it. Copyright means that there are all rights reserved for the materials under it. Creative Commons just reserves some rights for the materials. It is far more flexible for authors. They have variety of options.

Then it is easy to release information and knowledge with appropriate protection of rights. It also release power to the users. When users get more power, their influence and their expertise would grow fast. Eventually, the world would evolve faster. That is the reason why the western societies evolve faster and faster. It becomes very hard for others to catch up.

Billy Graham on TED.com

2008-07-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

same old topic

2008-07-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

Philosophy is the art of thinking and questioning. We always look for definition of everything including definition. We want to find out the answers. We want to ask questions and even questions about questions.

We know what we know. We know something that we don't know. We don't know what we don't know. Is it beyond our imagination? Still in our imagination?

We also want to understand how we understand. We also want to understand why others cannot understand.

It is a process of learning. Learn how to learn. Maybe we practice to learn. Sometimes, we have to teach and even teach how to teach.

Why do we do so much? Maybe we can make a better life. But what is "better"? And what is "life"?

To make a better world (part 2)

2008-03-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

(Continued from Part 1)

The whole world has been changing very quickly over past 100 years. Most of innovations, systems and development only happened in this period. The societies and international affairs are getting much more complex. There are great demands on the quality of new capabilities of global citizens.

Creativity is one of crucial ability that allows global citizens to adapt the ever-changing world, to find out new solutions for new problems and to find out new way to ensure sustainable development.

Regarding to culture conflict, love and respect in our heart becomes to the understanding, appreciation and forgiving to other culture.

Learning ability is another crucial ability. Confucius said there exists one teacher among three persons. In global context, we can learn merits from other better cultures and demerits from the worser. We need to compare these cultures objectively with a reasonable scheme and enough reflection. Reasoning is one of our valuable assets. It leads us to take actions in a concrete and constructive way.

Courage to adapt changes, introduce changes and implements changes. Every normal person would stay in its own comfort zone. It is quite similar to a country. It is very hard to change a country because of legacy especially the resistance from our own value system and the one who is taking advantages.

Leadership is also required. We need to encourage and motivate other team members. We need to have ability to resolve conflicts, make judge in controversy and so on. One of critical requirement for leadership is language power. Not only communicate effectively but also touch everyone's heart. It is like a poet to write a poem which makes others feel what author felt. It also helps other understand the leader's goal and purpose. It helps to determine a plan and comes to the agreement.

After everyone comes to the agreement, the rest depends on the power of execution. How can we implement the plan? How can we make it happen? How can we get the final result? Of course, every member must work together as a single team. Every citizen must take part in the public life. Public life can be in community level, national level and international level. Every global citizen must understand its own identity and responsibility.

To make a better world?

2008-03-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Someone would say that its own principal is to make a better world. Thus whatever he do would be meaningful. However did all of us have mutually agreed on the concrete meaning of a better world? Everyone has its own definition.

Establishmentalists favour to develop systems for everything. To them, a better world would be a world full of systems. Minimalists prefer to manage the world with minimum effort. Optimists would think too much on future problems. Their better world is already here.

Do we mean that a better world is a world of rich, a world of materials or a world of high technology? No. No. No. Money does not equal to happiness. The poors always exist and nobody can get rid of it. We cannot make everyone rich in the world. In fact, we cannot buy happiness, friendship, family, self-esteem and peace. We can only buy products and services. Our money is limited. Our time is limited. If our greed is unlimited, there is no way to make ourselves satisfied.

Technologies are just tools. Technologies only improve our efficiency and provide new ways. It won't provide us goals, purposes and attitude. However, it may magnify our effects. We cannot fully rely on technologies.

Basically there is a common place. A better world is a peaceful world where everybody can have a happy and healthy life. There is no pollution. The waters and the skies are clear. No more extinction. Everyone can enjoy the living place. They would respect each other, help each other, inspire each other and support each other. These imply that we need just, love and peace such that human being can enjoy the good times and overcome the bad times. In fact, we cannot expect we can make it immediately. Regarding to the dynamic sense of goodness, the whole world should be improved from time to time. Then, one day, we will be there.

Once we make up our mind about a better world. Then how can we make it? What are the conditions? What are the requirements on ourselves?

The persons who put effort to improve the world should outnumber the rest. We need education, mentoring, coaching and good examples. Reasoning is our critical tool to prove the definition and find out the feasible solution. We need all of us not just to focus on personal interest but also the global interest. We need enough knowledge to judge our values. We need to agree the global goal and put effort on it. We need courage to take action. We need to spread this idea and make others to spread this idea.

Very hard? Yes, it is very hard.

Human SPACE INVADERS

2008-01-20T17:17:00.001-08:00

human PONG

2008-01-20T17:16:00.001-08:00

human TETRIS

2008-01-20T17:15:00.001-08:00

funny performance

2008-01-17T18:39:00.001-08:00

Existence and Evidence

2007-10-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

I came across a quote. It sounds like that. We cannot find the evidence of non-existence of a particle. We just did not find any evidence of it's existence.

The interesting point is how we can prove something does not exist. It cannot exist or it does exist but behave as nothing. Is it possible?

How can we determine what existence is? What makes something evidence? What is the condition? Martin Heidegger had studied "existence" thoroughly. In his book "Being and Time", he talked about the criteria and properties of being of everything. He tried to compare being and not-being in a conceptual way. It was incredible in 1927 because not many philosophers would think about it deeply.

Evidence is normally an observable event which has connection with our subject. When we expect such subject does not exist, nothing would interact with it. No connection can be made in our universe. Thus no evidence of non-existence can be provided. Therefore, we cannot find the evidence of non-existence of a particle.

game prediction, future exchange

2007-06-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

The simExchange - (noun) the free fantasy video game prediction market for forecasting the number of copies games will sell.

the exchange of future events not futures?

this corporate helps to measure the future value of ideas

Definition of definition

2007-06-06T06:27:00.001-07:00

A definition is a concise statement explaining the meaning of a term, word or phrase. The term to be defined is known as the definiendum (Latin: that which is to be defined). The form of words which defines it is known as the definiens (Latin: that which is doing the defining).

Given that a natural language such as English contains, at any given time, a finite number of words, any comprehensive list of definitions must either be circular or leave some terms undefined. If every term of every definiens must itself be defined, where should we stop?[10] A dictionary, for instance, in so far as it is a comprehensive list of lexical definitions, must resort to circularity.

Many philosophers have chosen instead to leave some terms undefined. The scholastic philosophers claimed that the highest genera (the so-called ten generalissima) cannot be defined, since we cannot assign any higher genus under which they may fall. Thus we cannot define being, unity and similar concepts. Locke supposes in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding that the names of simple concepts do not admit of any definition. More recently Bertrand Russell sought to develop a formal language based on logical atoms. Other philosophers, notably Wittgenstein, rejected the need for any undefined simples. Wittgenstein pointed out in his Philosophical Investigations that what counts as a "simple" in one circumstance might not do so in another. He rejected the very idea that every explanation of the meaning of a term needed itself to be explained: "As though an explanation hung in the air unless supported by another one", claiming instead that explanation of a term is only needed when we need to avoid misunderstanding.

Locke and Mill also argued that we cannot define individuals. We learn names by connecting an idea with a sound, so that speaker and hearer have the same idea when the same word is used. This is not possible when no one else is acquainted with the particular thing that has "fallen under our notice". Russell offered his theory of descriptions in part as a way of defining a proper name, the definition being given by a definite description that "picks out" exactly one individual. Saul Kripke pointed to difficulties with this approach, especially in relation to modality, in his book Naming and Necessity.

There is a presumption in the classic example of a definition that the definiens can be stated. Wittgenstein argued that for some terms this is not the case. The examples he used include game, number and family. In such cases, he argued, there is no fixed boundary that can be used to provide a definition. Rather, the items are grouped together because of a family resemblance. For terms such as these it is not possible to state a definition; rather, one simply comes to understand the use of the term.

(from Wikipedia)

ejb3

2007-05-19T00:18:00.000-07:00

EJB3 relationship management.

java.net: What's New in EJB 3.0

Krishna Srinivasan looks at the major innovations of Enterprise JavaBeans 3.0 and how they differ from earlier versions of the standard.

Enperprise Java Beans (EJB 3.0) - Tutorials and Articles for EJB 3

how-to-ejb30-entitymanager

Java Persistence Query Language : Weblog

EJB3 is not Hibernate

long list of mobile games

2007-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

Here is the long list of mobile games. You can search games for a specific model. Though it is in German, you still can go through all the screenshots.
mobilnew.a1.net/j2medc/frameset.htm

Comics and Animation Festival in Beijing

2007-03-01T22:01:00.001-08:00

http://games.tom.com/2007-01-30/00G5/08056525.html

http://www.pcgames.com.cn/cartoon/news/guoneinews/0702/860631.html

http://fabu.beareyes.com.cn/2/lib/200702/13/20070213007.htm

http://www.cinic.org.cn/HTML/2006/hybxw/20072258196.html

http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/a/200702/20070204379624.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2007-02/12/content_5732233.htm

http://news.qq.com/a/20070213/00

Values of Games to Teenagers

2007-01-31T21:31:00.000-08:00

Children love games. Teenagers love games. Video games, console games and online games give us the great experience on visual effects and interaction beyond our imagination. That's why the teenagers are fascinated by them. However, the human communication is lacked in those games. Sometimes, the illusion presented in these games may alter children concepts and values especially when they have not yet developed their own value system. The teenagers may see bloodshed in the uncensored games. They may get used to it. They may not take lives serious.

In fact, the healthy games should encourage human interaction and challenges. They should train up players' mind-body coordination, brain power, communication skills, etc. Thus players can be self-developed.

As what we can see, sport activities are encouraged in schools of United States. Basket ball, football, hockey, golf catch teenagers' eyes. The players can learn team spirit through the games. They understand that it does not matter to win or lose. Only friendship and personal development is what they gain.

In Hong Kong, sports is just sports. Game is game. Sports is for physical training. Game is for leisure only. The values of sports and games could not be quite understood. It requires much more effort for Hong Kong to cultivate the sports and gaming culture.

old but lovely games

2006-05-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.mobygames.com/home

http://www.ign.com/

Isaiah Berlin Virtual Library

2006-04-04T01:14:00.000-07:00

http://berlin.wolf.ox.ac.uk/

good gov site

2006-04-04T01:13:00.000-07:00

http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/browse.jsp

HK Gov Reports Online!

game links

2006-02-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

Mobile Entertainment Analyst
http://mobenta.com/

Massive Snowboarding
http://www.wgamer.com/gamedir/game-6025&q=

What a good place to learn!

2005-12-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

To Learn something from MIT!
http://mitworld.mit.edu/index.php
Video Notes

Library/Encyclopedia/Life Project

2005-12-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.pewinternet.org/

Library Journal - Where Learners Go
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6261428.html

Library and Learning
http://acrlblog.org/

Rapid Instructional Design and ...

2005-11-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

RID
http://www.thiagi.com/article-rid.html

Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/csclstudent/Dhsiao/theories.html

Cognitive Science

2005-11-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

Constructivism
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/soc_construction.html

HCI
http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi97/proceedings/tutorial/index.html

Constructivist Epistemology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivist_epistemology

Active Theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activity_Theory

Evaluate Web-based Instructional Design
http://www.chartula.com/evalwbi.pdf

Canton Opera

2005-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Canton Opera Fans
How to promote Canton Opera?
Make Up in Canton Opera

在原野上

2005-11-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

在原野上

Regarding to the ten questions

When one thing is regarded as normal, it should be the majority. However, the majority would change from time to time.

As the life is more convenient, the persons are getting more lazy. That's why students in new generation are more lazy than the one in senior generation.

Of course, when there are too much to learn, there is no much time for digestion. It may lead to fatigue if it is not lead by passion.

Chinese Culture links

2005-11-27T06:41:00.000-08:00

HK Chinese Orchestra
China Encyclopedia
Lee HC 的黑膠樂園
香港粵劇面面觀講座-2
馬師曾
林家聲先生對粵劇的領悟及興趣是天賦的
中国书生[www.booksir.com]--文化版
日升昌
歡迎來到阿立粵曲天地

oh yeah! scripts!

2005-10-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

http://script.aculo.us/

3D programming

2005-08-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.hl2world.com/
http://www.hl2world.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.cs.unc.edu/~geom/collide/index.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis-aligned_bounding_box
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_detection

Sweep-and-Prune method
http://parallel.vub.ac.be/documentation/pvm/Example/Marc_Ramaekers/node3.html

http://www.ce.chalmers.se/edu/course/EDA425/lectures/colldet.pdf

http://www.cmpevents.com/GD05/a.asp?option=G&V=3&id=270697

game reviewer

2005-07-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

www.gamesplot.com
www.gamefaq.com

bookmarks

2005-06-07T22:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.mobitv.com/

http://www.exit-games.com/web/com/games/
http://www.exit-games.com/web/com/games/game_list.aspx

http://www.fathammer.com/
http://www.fathammer.com/id/games/index.html

http://www.gdconf.com/

http://www.machineworksnorthwest.com/mobile.htm

http://www.in-fusio.com/

nokia researches

2005-06-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.mobilevce.com/

http://oxygen.lcs.mit.edu/ (HCI)

http://www.thefeature.com/ (journals)

http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,53708,00.html (SIP in nokia)

http://www.smt.onlinemobilegaming.com/web/en/ (Nokia's OMG)

another group mobile content

2005-06-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008481.html

http://www.rocketboom.com/port/

http://www.mobitv.com/

links

2005-06-07T02:08:00.000-07:00

www.handy-games.com
www.macrospace.com
http://www.midlet-review.com/

good looking game

2005-06-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

UNDER COVER 2
screenshots

Interesting sites

2005-06-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

International Game Developers Association
http://www.igda.org/
http://www.igda.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Replay tool?

Gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/mobile/index.html

Guardian Blog

Good Game Portals

2005-06-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

1. GameDev.Net
http://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/

2. Wireless Forum
http://www.w2forum.com/journal/kurtuhlir/mobile_games

3. Game Research
http://www.game-research.com/wireless.asp

4. Game for Mobile
http://www.games4mobile.com/

5. MGIF
http://www.openmobilealliance.org/tech/affiliates/mgif/mgifindex.html

6. Wireless Gaming Review
http://wgamer.com/

7. I-Play
http://www.iplay.com/

8. Wireless Biz + Tech
http://wireless.sys-con.com/

9. M-Pedia
http://www.mpedia.com/