約翰·洛克的教育思想(中英對照)-30: 旅行

TRAVEL | The last part usually in education is travel, which is commonly thought to finish the work and complete the gentleman. I confess, travel into foreign countries has great advantages; but the time usually chosen to send young men abroad, is, I think, of all other, that which renders them least capable of reaping those advantages. Those which are proposed, as to the main of them, may be reduced to these two: first, language; secondly, an improvement in wisdom and prudence, by seeing men, and conversing with people of tempers, customs, and ways of living, different from one another, and especially from those of his parish and neighbourhood. But from sixteen to one-and-twenty, which is the ordinary time of travel, men are, of all their lives, the least suited to these improvements. The first season to get foreign languages, and form the tongue to their true accents, I should think, should be from seven to fourteen or sixteen; and then too a tutor with them is useful and necessary, who may with those languages, teach them other things. But to put them out of their parents view, at a great distance, under a governor, when they think themselves too much men to be governed by others, and yet have not prudence and experience enough to govern themselves: what is it but to expose them to all the greatest dangers of their whole life, when they have the least fence and guard against them? Till that boiling boisterous part of life comes on, it may be hoped the tutor may have some authority; neither the stubbornness of age, nor the temptation or examples of others can take him from his tutor's conduct till fifteen or sixteen; but then, when he begins to comfort himself with men, and thinks himself one; when he comes to relish and pride himself in manly vices, and thinks it a shame to be any longer under the control and conduct of another, what can be hoped from even the most careful and discreet governor, when neither he has power to compel, nor his pupil a disposition to be persuaded; but on the contrary, has the advice of warm blood and prevailing fashion, to hearken to the temptations of his companions, just as wise as himself, rather than to the persuasions of his tutor, who is now looked on as an enemy to his freedom? And when is a man so like to miscarry, as when at the same time he is both raw and unruly?  This is the season of all his life that most requires the eye and authority of his parents and friends to govern it. The flexibleness of the former part of a man's age, not yet grown up to be headstrong, makes it more governable and safe; and in the afterpart, reason and foresight begin a little to take place, and mind a man of his safety and improvement. The time therefore I should think the fittest for a young gentleman to be sent abroad, would be, either when he is younger, under a tutor, whom he might be the better for; or when he is some years older, without a governor; when he is of age to govern himself, and make observations of what he finds in other countries worthy his notice, and that might be of use to him after his return; and when too, being throughly acquainted with the laws and fashions, the natural and moral advantages and defects of his own country, he has something to exchange with those abroad, from whose conversation he hoped to reap any knowledge.

旅行 |  教育的最後部分通常是旅行，一般認為，旅行是教育的結束，也是一個紳士的完成。我承認到國外旅行有很大益處；但是我覺得通常送年輕人到國外旅行的時機，是最不可能讓他們獲得這些益處的。旅行的主要好處可以歸結為兩種：第一是語言，第二是通過多觀察、多接觸各種在脾性、習俗及生活方式上彼此不同的人，特別是與自己的教區及鄰近地區有區別的人，以增進智慧及持重能力。但是一般年輕人出國旅行是在十六歲到二十一歲之間，那時正是他人生中最難獲得這種長進的時候。我認為學習外語，包括學習其正確發音，第一個時機應是從七歲到十四歲或十六歲，那時有導師相伴是有益的、必須的，因為導師可以用那些外語向他傳授別的事物。但是當他們以為自己已長大了，不再需要受他人的管束，然而他們的謹慎與經驗又不足以管束自己時，讓他們在一個監護人的帶領之下，遠離父母的視線，這豈不是在他們的自衛能力最薄弱之時，將他們完全暴露在人生中遭遇的最大危險麵前嗎？在生命中熱血沸騰的時期來臨之前，希望導師還有一些權威；在十五六歲之前，他們既不到固執己見的年齡，也不會因為別人的引誘或榜樣而脫離導師的管束；但是當他從成人那裏得到慰籍，並覺得自己是成人的時候；當他開始喜歡許多邪惡的事，並以此為傲，覺得再受別人的管束與指導是一種恥辱的時候，那時監護人既缺乏強迫學生的權力，而學生也沒有聽從他的情緒，相反，他受熱血與流行時尚的影響，聽從和他一樣聰明的夥伴的引誘，不聽從導師的規勸，反而視導師為其自由的敵人，即使導師是最仔細、最謹慎的監護人，又能期望導師做些什麽呢？當一個人什麽時候既無經驗又不受管束，同時卻又容易誤入歧途呢？這個時期是他一生中最需要父母及朋友的看顧與約束的。人生在此之前還很柔和，還沒有長大到固執任性，比較容易管束、比較安全；在此之後的時期，理智與遠見開始產生，使人能夠注意自己的安全與進步。所以我認為，一個年輕紳士出國旅行的最佳時期是在年紀較小，易受導師管束的時候；或是年紀較大，無需導師的時候；那時他到了可以管束自己的年齡，在外國看見值得注意的東西，就會留心觀察，當他回國後也許有用；而且他事先徹底地熟悉了本國的法律、風俗及本國天然的、道德上的利弊優劣，他就有材料和國外的人交流，能從與他們的交談中獲得一些知識。

The ordering of travel otherwise, is that, I imagine, which makes so many young gentlemen come back so little improved by it. And if they do bring home with them any knowledge of the places and people they have seen, it is often an admiration of the worst and vainest practices they met with abroad; retaining a relish and memory of those things wherein their liberty took its first swing, rather than of what should make them better and wiser after their return. And indeed how can it be otherwise, going abroad at the age they do under the care of another, who is to provide their necessaries, and make their observations for them? Thus under the shelter and pretence of a governor, thinking themselves excused from standing upon their own legs or being accountable for their own conduct, they very seldom trouble themselves with enquiries or making useful observations of their own. Their thoughts run after play and pleasure, wherein they take it as a lessening to be controlled; but seldom trouble themselves to examine the designs, observe the address, and consider the arts, tempers, and inclinations of men they meet with; that so they may know how to comport themselves towards them. Here he that travels with them is to screen them; get them out when they have run themselves into the briars; and in all their miscarriages be answerable for them.

我認為許多年輕紳士旅行回來後很少進步，原因就在於旅行的順序安排與此不同。假如他們帶回家任何他們所目睹的風土人情的知識，也常常是是對他們在國外所遇到的最糟糕、最無價值的事物的讚賞；保留在他們頭腦中的隻是對他們首次自由之後所碰到的事物喜愛與記憶，而非那些可使自己返回後變得更聰明、更美好的東西。而且在這種年齡出國旅行，他們尚須別人照顧，由別人替他們預備一切所需之物，替他們去觀察，確實除此以外還有別的結果嗎？因為有監護人作庇護、作借口，認為自己不必獨立、不必替自己的行為承擔任何責任，他們很少麻煩自己去親身對事物進行探究或有益的觀察。他們的思想追求的是遊戲與快樂，認為這是少被管束的一種表現；他們也很少不辭辛苦地對他們所遇到的人，去考查他們的圖謀，觀察他們的說辭，思考他們的技能、脾性和愛好；從而知道自己應如何應付他們。這裏，陪伴他們旅行的人要庇護他們，一旦他們陷入荊棘叢中，要幫助他們擺脫困境，對於他們的一切不良行為要為其負責。

I confess, the knowledge of men is so great a skill, that it is not to be expected a young man should presently be perfect in it. But yet his going abroad is to little purpose, if travel does not sometimes open his eyes, make him cautious and wary, and accustom him to look beyond the outside, and, under the inoffensive guard of a civil and obliging carriage, keep himself free and safe in his conversation with strangers, and all sorts of people, without forfeiting their good opinion. He that is sent out to travel at the age, and with the thoughts, of a man designing to improve himself, may get into the conversation and acquaintance of persons of condition where he comes: which, though a thing of most advantage to a gentleman that travels; yet I ask, among our young men that go abroad under tutors, What one is there of an hundred, that ever visits any person of quality? Much less makes an acquaintance with such, from whose conversation he may learn what is good breeding in that country, and what is worth observation in it; though from such persons it is, one may learn more in one day, than in a year's rambling from one inn to another. Nor indeed is it to be wondered; for men of worth and parts will not easily admit the familiarity of boys, who yet need the care of a tutor: though a young gentleman and stranger, appearing like a man, and showing a desire to inform himself in the customs, manners, laws, and government of the country he is in, will find welcome assistance and entertainment amongst the best and most knowing persons every-where, who will be ready to receive, encourage, and countenance any ingenious and inquisitive foreigner.

我承認，了解人是一個重要的技巧，不能期望一個年輕人立刻就能完美掌握它。但是假如旅行有時不能開闊他的眼界，不能使他小心謹慎，不能讓他習慣看事物不隻是看外表，不能使他在禮貌親切的舉止的衛護下，與陌生人以及各種各樣的人安全自如地交談，而又不致失去別人的好評，那麽出國旅行就沒有什麽用處。一個人到了旅行的年紀，有心以此來使自己進步，他就可以與當地上流人士交往和認識，這雖然是一個紳士能從旅行中得到的最大益處；但是我要問，我們那些在導師帶領下出國旅行的年輕人中，一百人中有多少個曾經訪問過任何傑出的人士？至於和這種人士結識，從與他們的談話去學習那個國家的良好教養，看其中有什麽值得遵行的，那就更談不上了；雖然從這樣一個人那裏，一天學到的東西，比一年中從一處漫遊到另一處學到的東西還要多。這本是不足為奇的，因為德高望重的人是不輕易與尚須導師照料的孩子認識友好的；而一個年輕的紳士和陌生人，顯出成人的樣子，願意了解他所訪問國家的風俗、禮儀、法律和政府，他總會到處得到最優秀、最有才識的人的歡迎幫助與款待，他們對於一個聰明好問的外國人總是願意接待、鼓勵和支持的。

This, how true soever it be, will not I fear alter the custom, which has cast the time of travel upon the worst part of a man's life; but for reasons not taken from their improvement. The young lad must not be ventured abroad at eight or ten, for fear of what may happen to the tender child, though he then runs ten times less risk than at sixteen or eighteen. Nor must he stay at home till that dangerous, heady age be over, because he must be back again by one and twenty, to marry and propagate. The father cannot stay any longer for the portion, nor the mother for a new set of babies to play with; and so my young master, whatever comes on it, must have a wife looked out for him by that time he is of age; though it would be no prejudice to his strength, his parts, or his issue, if it were respited for some time, and he had leave to get, in years and knowledge, the start a little of his children, who are often found to tread too near upon the heels of their fathers, to the no great satisfaction either of son or father. But the young gentleman being got within view of matrimony, it is time to leave him to his mistress.

這個道理無論如何真實，我擔心它還是不能改變習俗，習俗還是讓人在一生中最糟糕的時期去旅行，而並不是為了他們的進步提高的緣故。年輕人不能在八到十歲時冒險出國，因為擔心在脆弱的小孩身上發生什麽事情，雖然他碰到危險機會比十六到十八歲時小十倍。他也不能呆在家裏等這魯莽危險的年齡過去，因為他必須在二十一歲之前回國，去結婚生子。父親等不及了要分家產，母親等不及了要有新的一批嬰兒來逗玩；於是我的少主人不管怎樣，一到年齡，使得找個太太來照顧他；雖然在年齡與學識方麵為其健康、才能或後代著想，他不妨推遲一點開始要小孩，因為小孩常常蹣跚跟在他的腳跟後麵，對他或小孩都沒有太大好處。但是年輕紳土一旦接近婚姻，就得交給他太太了。

 

摘自Some Thoughts Concerning Education (English-Chinese Edition)(ISBN-10: 1537479857)