1. The notion that so-called “originality” is actually variation or synthesis of existing ideas finds its greatest support in linguistics and in law.

2. Even in the arts—where one might think that true originality must surely reside—so called “new” ideas almost always embrace, apply, or synthesize what came earlier.

3. When it comes to the natural sciences, however, some new ideas are truly original while others put established ideas together in new ways.

4. However, in other instances great advances in science are made by putting together current theories or other ideas in new ways.

创新并不意味着一定要想一些人们从未想过的东西;它意味着用新方法来重组老观点。

新旧问题

科学的作用是解惑;艺术的目的是创新。只有这样他们才各得其所。

Disagree:

1. In many cases artists set about to reassure, not to upset.

2. In other cases, artists set about to upset.

3. The final objective of science, in my view, is to discover truths about our world, our universe and ourselves. Sometimes these discoveries serve to reassure, and other times they serve to upset.

Reassure

upset

礼节和典礼有助于定义一个文化。如果没有这些，社会或者团体就会逐渐地迷失自我。

1. I agree with the speaker insofar as one purpose of ritual and ceremony in today’s world is to preserve cultural identity.

2. Nevertheless, preserving cultural identity cannot be the only purpose of ritual and ceremony.

3. Nor are ritual and ceremony the only means of preserving cultural identity.