Dear William
謝謝你沒有忘記 labrary
何謂「超級圖書館」?
*李察
(問到底 No.7116 2008 0807 Thursday)
這一所「超級圖書館」的英文名字,李察已經想
好了,先寫出來,不是作為註冊商標,而僅僅只是,
這一個英文字,更能表達意思。至於恰當的中譯,容
後再說。
這字,就是 Labrary,是Library 和Laboratory
的混合。未來世界的圖書館,是圖書室和研究室的結
合。這一個龐大的機構,將會是未來人類智慧的孕育
場。而這是人類在面對世界危機中被迫創造出來的機
構。
任何一個混蛋,只要他能夠寫得出一本書:無論
是多麼荒謬,多麼幼稚的書,超級圖書館都會為他出
版。出版一本精裝的保存本。然後,用電子儀器儲存
好了,全世界的讀者,都可以跟這位混蛋接觸。而且,
超級圖書館還會為他發一點稿費。稿費不必太多,只
夠他每天的飯錢。換言之,就是要把這樣的混蛋養起
來。不但只養,圖書館還免費為他提供資料。他要看
甚麼書,都大量供應。
這有甚麼好處呢?
全世界的混蛋都會來了。美國的、英國的、埃塞
俄比亞的,都來吃閒飯,看閒書了。
但這是不要緊的。
只要在一萬隻混蛋中,混有一隻金蛋,世界就有
希望了。所有的污染危機,能源危機,生物危機,都
有解救了。
因為,智慧是挽救地球的良方。
超級圖書館提供兩方面的協助。
一是資料協助。二是技術協助。
大家或者沒有忘記瓦特的故事。最初,他只是
有一個空想,想利用蒸汽的動力。但他沒有辦法解決
蒸汽活塞裡的漏汽問題。如果當年他有這樣的一所
Labrary,他可能把十五年的研究時間,縮短為一年。
今日,大多數的人類智慧,都是被鎖在技術的外
面的。每一行業,都是專業。出了門,就甚麼都不懂。
而門外的人,也無法幫助門裡的人。
有創意,但欠缺技術。愈是現代化 ,技術要求愈
高。如果再有一個混蛋,他想發明一種新玩意,也會
因為技術無法過關而失敗。
今日,專業的門,都是鎖上的。一般人,不但從
未看過電子顯微鏡,甚麼奈米技術,好像神話。
所以,我們需要的是橋樑。需要把創意和專業串
起來。自然,這是需要資金的,也會是經常浪費的。
但是,只要找到了一隻金蛋,這金蛋就會孵化成為一
隻會生金蛋的鵝。
如果有了這樣的一所Labrary ,就能製造一隻這
樣的金鵝。多麼好。
這樣的Labrary,需要多少資金呢?
李察相信:僅僅需要約三至四百億美元,就可以
開業了。真是十分便宜呢。
Leechard,
I suppose we should talk about labrary concept rather than the concentration camp concept you have mentioned. Here i shall be glad to copy my article on labrary for your reference.
Dear leechard,
Your proposal of labrary, a combination of laboratory and library, would provide the service of both institution to us as we have already enjoyed these for three hundreds years, since the beginning of latest oil culture. I believe and you are right to believe that it shall be a good instrument to enable us to explore the frontier of knowledge and develop new technologies to be applied in future. It would be your wish, as well as the wish of me, your readers, the intellectuals, and those who wish to save the mankind and earth, that this proposal would soon be true one day. Let us pray for God that by his mercy, labrary would be built as soon as possible and as many as possible, in every quarter of globe where there is a vast population of human live, and it would then become a source of new human thought.
I also wish to say a word or two on where labrary would be built.
Freedom of speech and thought is the first and essential element required by this institution. The high standard of tolerance of various opinions over a very sensitive issue, just like whether the Christ is a soul or human, which would be a main component of the freedom, should be the character of people in the place with labrary. I have seen, and I am sure you and your readers have seen these people nowadays, they are the people in Western world, the British, The American, the Dutch. If people shall not allow the words different from themselves to be heard, and ever expressed, i do not think that a labrary would still perform its duty well.
The high level of education of the population there is essential too. I expect they should have a good proficiency of the language used in their places, and some international languages, Chinese and English. They should have a sound understanding of the local and international affairs, just like the global warming. Music, Art should be the interest of them and they could appreciate many great musicians and artists, like Mozart, Handel. They should have learned much in science, Physics, Chemistry , Biology and Mathematics, Astronomy, Meteorology They could know what Newton laws of motion are and their application, how organic matters undergoes different type of reaction, the way using the differentiation and integrations in caculus, and they could know much about animals and plants, and different species living there and how the genetic knowledge is used. They would understand the impact of the rainstorm and drought to their life, and have the deep knowledge of planets and stars in the univense. Above all, they like to make many inventions, machines and tools, just like Mr Chen, that they are of use to human life.
I think that by these two qualities, that man in that place shall give the labrary the power to develop human thinking and revolutionize the world that it could move to a sunlit highland. I am pleased if you and your readers can find this article useful. If you can add your ideas in the requirement to make labrary successful, I shall be very happy
I wish to hear from you soon. I have no objection if you make this letter in public.
Best regards,
William