【推荐1】As a “major” at university, philosophy may not be so popular nowadays, for it seems to be too abstract, remote and impractical, unlike subjects such as computing, finance, accounting and so on.

Fundamentally speaking, the word “philosophy”，originated from the Greek Φιλοσοφία meaning “love of wisdom”, originally included all kinds of knowledge. In that world dominated by supernatural gods, philosophers and scientists were the same, and their wisdom was started by asking questions. They believed that everything in the world is composed of air and attempted to examine the air and the sun --- these quests developed their wisdom.

The relations between man and the world may be divided into three categories, namely the relationships between man and nature, man and society and within the human self, which are studied separately by the natural sciences, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology; social sciences, such as sociology, economics, politics, law, ethics; and sciences of thinking, such as brain science, neuroscience(神经学), psychology, logic. Philosophy, however, is none of these branches of learning but their abstraction and generalization.

The benefits of studying philosophy may be realized as follows: First, it assists people to properly adjust the relations between nature, society and the self, becoming fully aware of where they stand macrocosmically(宏观地)and microcosmically. Second, it makes people think more systematically, combining various “separated materials”. Essentially, philosophy is the study of thinking, analyzing issues from different angles before anything can be taken in. Special attention is paid to strict reflection during every stage of thinking and this process itself is included as part of its study, so as to form a pattern of clear critical thinking. Third, philosophy can also shape one’s character. Difficult thinking, reasoning and summarizing result in people becoming firmer and more persistent in a deep sense. Since philosophy is finally about living, it leads to an appreciation of meaningful life through perfecting personality.

In a sense, philosophy is in fact widely applicable and has been studied and acquired by experts of natural and social sciences and many philosophers, both at home and abroad, who have become celebrities either in their specialist fields of study or in their switched professions as generalists.

Therefore, philosophy is not abstract, nor remote, but of profound use.

【推荐3】Extinctions are seldom a cause for celebration. Humans are wiping out species at a frightening rate, whether hunting them into history or, far more threateningly, damaging the habitats on which they depend. How, then, to think about a new technology that will make driving a species to extinction far easier?

That technology is known as a gene drive, so called because it uses genetic engineering to drive certain features through a population. Those characteristics need not be harmful: they might become stronger against disease among crops or, perhaps, greater tolerance to warming waters on the part of corals. And if the species in question were the three types of mosquito responsible for spreading malaria(疟疾), it could save close to half a million lives a year, many of them children. The same approach could be used against other diseases such as Lyme disease, and Zika. Gene drives also offer us a potential weapon against foreign species such as foxes, mice, rabbits and rats, which are threatening native species in some parts of the world.

Normally genes have a 50:50 chance of being passed on during reproduction. Gene drives tip the evolutionary scales. One area of research focuses on genes that can copy themselves to the second, ensuring that they will be passed on by all offspring(后代). Like many technologies, however, gene drives may lead to bad outcomes as well as good. They could in theory make a species extinct. One concern is practical: removing a species from the food chain could have unintended consequences, particularly if gene drives can move to a closely related species. Another relates to governance. Genetically modified crops can be kept relatively contained; animals carrying gene drives could be mobile and respect no borders. One country’s decision to use gene drives will have consequences for its neighbors. A third worry concerns improper uses of the technology, and not only by states. A mosquito, engineered to inject toxins(毒素), could be used as a weapon. But putting the brakes on research may pay real costs: not just the annual rising number of deaths taken by malaria and other killers before an answer is found, but also slower progress towards making gene drives safer.

【推荐1】Robert was born on August 9, 1910 in the Netherlands. His mother came from a family of musicians and piano manufacturers, a fact that greatly influenced Robert’s life. His father was a physician in army, a position which required frequent foreign postings. The family stayed in various areas of East Asia for most of Robert’s youth. This experience contributed to his appreciation for cultures and mastery of several languages.

Robert was a hardworking academic, collector of art and manuscripts, and translator of ancient writings. He studied and trained to become a master musician on the Chinese guqin, and eventually wrote two books on the instrument. Similarly, his skills as an artist in the traditional Chinese style and knowledge of calligraphy were unparalleled. He wrote and published a number of non-fiction, scholarly articles and books on Chinese music, art, and literature, as well as Chinese culture and folk legends.

In 1940, Robert came across a little-known and anonymous (匿名的)18th-century Chinese novel that would take his career down an unplanned pathway and result in the public fame he never anticipated. The novel, titled Four Great Strange Cases of Empress Wu’s Reign, was a fictional account of the deeds of Judge Dee, one of the heroes of traditional Chinese detective fiction, and was set in the 7th-century Tang Dynasty. Fascinated, Robert not only translated the novel into English, he also did some research on the history of Chinese Penal Code and other legal literature of the period. It was not until 1949 that Robert was able to publish his translation —Dee Goong An: Three Murder Cases Solved by Judge Dee. Robert’s Chinese mysteries comprise over 10 novels and short-story volumes, recording the career of Chinese detective called Di Renjie. Interestingly, the tales first found fame in oriental (东方的)editions, before being translated into English in 1957.

Through all the novels by Robert, he impressively brings to life the sights and sounds of daily Chinese life in the past. His passionate devotion and respect for the Chinese culture was never discounted, yet he also appreciated the purpose of fiction.

【推荐2】“Why do I live? Why do I wish for anything, or do anything? Is there anything in my life that will not be destroyed by my death?”

These are the words of the famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Like Tolstoy, many people ask these difficult questions. And they struggle to find meaning in their life. Tolstoy spent his whole life trying to answer difficult questions like these. His search for answers influenced his writing.

On August 28th, 1828, Leo Tolstoy was born in the country of Russia.

As a child, Tolstoy was a member of the Russian Catholic Church. But as a young man, he began to question that faith. Tolstoy wanted to make his own moral decisions; he was tired of being told what to believe. He thought people could achieve a degree of perfection if they tried hard enough. So he worked very hard at being the best in everything he did. He thought that he would find meaning and truth in success.

In the 1850s, Leo Tolstoy wrote his first stories. He wrote about his experiences in the army. He also told stories about when he was a child. These works were published and Tolstoy became a well-known writer.

Tolstoy was finally successful. He earned the respect he always wanted. Many wealthy and intelligent men met and talked with Tolstoy. Some of the men were writers like him. They talked a lot about faith and the meaning of life. But soon Tolstoy recognized that these men were not perfect. Now he knew they could not answer his questions about faith.

So in the 1860s, Tolstoy tried a different way to find meaning. He opened a school for the children of his serfs — the people who worked on his land. These workers were very poor. He wanted to help them because he thought they were more honest than the wealthy people he knew.

Tolstoy learned many things from his workers. He respected how they worked hard to provide for their families. He began to believe that marriage and family would give his life meaning. So in 1862, Leo Tolstoy married a young woman named Sonya Behrs.

The next 15 years were the best years of Tolstoy’s life. It was during this time that he wrote his most famous books -War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Many literature experts say that War and Peace is one of the greatest books ever written.

Both War and Peace and Anna Karenina communicate Tolstoy’s beliefs about the Russian nation, church and people. They also communicate what he thought was the answer to all his questions. Tolstoy believed humans were supposed to live a simple life and take care of their families. Tolstoy thought this would satisfy him and bring him happiness.

Leo Tolstoy is still a very respected writer today. His faith and writings have influenced many people. Tolstoy’s search for the meaning of life is something everyone can understand. His teachings still interest people all over the world.