考博汉译英.doc

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科学杰出之处就在于它能创造人为的可控之物，科学和工程学使我们能够建造我们今天得以生活在其中的部分人工化了的环境，在这个环境里充满了无数大桥、卡车、飞机、抗生素和基因变异物种。我们很有可能建造一个日益更加人为化，也因而渐渐更加可知的未来世界。
有两种局限性制约着预测能力的发展。首先，随着科学和工程学所创造的东西越来越大，越来越复杂，这些东西本身很可能变得不可预测。例如, 大型软件，随着其自身的扩展和完善，能发展成一个程度的自然物所具有的复杂性，且获得一定能力，来干扰或以不可预测的方式进行活动。

参考译文：

It is in creating the artificial and controllable that science excels. Science and engineering have made it possible to construct the partially artificial surroundings we live in today, replete with huge bridges, trucks, airplanes, antibiotics and genetically altered species. We are likely to build an increasingly artificial, and hence increasingly knowable world.
Two limitations may constrain the march of predictability. First, as the artifacts of science and engineering grow ever larger and more complex, they may themselves become unpredictable. For example, large pieces of software, as they are expanded and amended, can develop a degree of complexity reminiscent of natural objects, and they can and do believe in disturbing and unpredictable ways.

转自学易网