gre作文模板:GRE作文范文大全(63)
Thirdly, to adopt a view that runs contrary to the speaker's position would be to sanction
certain intellectual pursuits while proscribing others which smacks of thought control and
political oppression. It is dangerous to afford ultimate decision-making power about what
intellectual pursuits are worthwhile to a handful of regulators, legislators, or elitists, since they
bring to bear their own quirky notions about what is worthwhile, and since they are notoriously
susceptible to influence-peddling which renders them untrustworthy in any event. Besides,
history informs us well of the danger inherent in setting official research priorities. A telling
modern example involves the Soviet government's attempts during the 1920s to not only
control the direction and the goals of its scientists' research but also to distort the outcome of
that research----ostensibly for the greatest good of the greatest number of people. During the
1920s the Soviet government quashed certain areas of scientific inquiry, destroyed entire
research facilities and libraries, and caused the sudden disappearance of many scientists who
were viewed as threats to the state's authority. Not surprisingly, during this time period no
significant scientific advances occurred under the auspices of the Soviet government.
Those who would oppose the speaker's assertion might argue that intellectual inquiry in
certain areas, particularly the arts and humanities, amounts to little more than a personal quest
for happiness or pleasure, and therefore is of little benefit to anyone but the inquirer. This
specious argument overlooks the palpable benefits of cultivating the arts. It also ignores the
fact that earnest study in the humanities affords us wisdom to know what is best for society,
and helps us understand and approach societal problems more critically, creatively, and
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effectively. Thus, despite the lack of a tangible nexus between certain areas of intellectual
inquiry and societal benefit, the nexus is there nonetheless. 感谢您阅读《GRE作文范文大全(63) 》一文,出国留学网(liuxue86.com)编辑部希望本文能帮助到您。
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