# 21.爬山類比 [TOC=3,5] ## 21 Mountain climb metaphor ## 爬山類比 ### 21.1 Education is a mountain to climb ### 教育是一座待攀登的山峰 The **mountain climb metaphor** is helpful to understand why the concept of [schooling](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Schooling) is so pervasive despite being highly harmful. The metaphor explains that we cannot improve upon optimization without using optimization tools. The metaphor extends to many areas of life. It extends to many ailments that torment humankind today. **爬山的類比**有助于理解為什么學校教育的概念是如此普遍，盡管它是非常有害的。這個類比解釋說，如果不使用優化工具，我們就不能在優化上有所改進。這個類比延伸到生活的許多領域。它延伸到今天折磨人類的許多疾病上。 A popular saying says _"hindsight is 20/20"_. However, there is a monumental snag in the process when we reach goals via optimization, and then attempt to lead others to reproduce the feat. Using hindsight, we are tempted to improve upon the trajectory without doing the actual computation that would verify the new trajectory's viability. 俗話說_「后見之明是完美的」_。然而，當我們通過優化達到目標，然后試圖帶領其他人重現這一壯舉時，這個過程中存在一個巨大的障礙。事后看來，我們傾向于在不做實際計算以驗證新軌道可行性的情況下對軌道進行改進。 > Metaphor. [Why use metaphors?](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_use_metaphors%3F) > > 類比。[為什么使用類比?](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_use_metaphors%3F) > > Imagine you climb a mountain. In the process, you look for best paths, possible dangers, time-wasting obstacles, shortcuts, feeding points, cliffs, shelters, rock falls, and so on. Once you find your optimum path, and you get to the top, you may feel euphoric elation. It is only natural that you want to help others reproduce your feat. Let others experience your joy. When you look back from the mountain top, you suddenly realize that your path was tortuous, winding, and complex. From the mountain top, you can see a simpler path that is more of a straight line. You scream to people at the foot of the mountain to let them know your "improved" straight line pathway. Inadvertently, you may lead them into an abyss, deep stream, bear cave, or stray in a densely wooded area with loss of visibility. At the mountain top, it is easy to imagine one knows better. It is easy to forget the pains and troubles of the climb > > 想象你在爬山。在這個過程中，你要尋找最佳路徑、可能的危險、浪費時間的障礙、捷徑、補充點、懸崖、遮蔽處、落石等等。一旦你找到了自己的最佳路徑，到達了頂峰，你可能會興高采烈。這時想幫助別人復制你的成就是很自然的。讓別人體驗你的快樂。當你從山頂回望，你突然意識到你的道路是曲折的、蜿蜒的、復雜的。從山頂上，你可以看到一條更簡單的路，這條路更直。你向山腳下的人們大喊，讓他們知道你「改進」的直線路徑。不經意間，你可能會把他們帶進一個深淵、深溪、熊洞，或迷失在一個失去了能見度的茂密森林地區。在山頂，很容易想象一個人知道得更多，也很容易忘記攀登的痛苦和煩惱 In [schooling](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Schooling), adults have a distorted version of their own learning path. From the mountaintop it all seems so easy: first the alphabet and counting, then reading and simple calculations, and then a simple straight path to wisdom \(see also: [Crystallization metaphor](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Crystallization_metaphor)\). This approach nearly never works as intended. In case of schooling, it causes unnecessary torment, and time-wasting all around the world. 在[學校教育](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Schooling)中，成年人有他們自己學習路徑的失真版本。從山頂上看，一切似乎都很容易：首先是字母表和數數，然后是閱讀和簡單的計算，然后是一條簡單的通向智慧的直道（另見：[結晶類比](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Crystallization_metaphor)）。這種方法幾乎從來沒有達到預期的效果。就學校教育而言，它在世界各地造成不必要的折磨和時間浪費。 A child's brain is different than an adult's brain. For [neurobiological reasons](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_amnesia), the adult has no way of remembering the difference. The adult cannot empathize with a child's learning process, and must step away to let it [run naturally](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Free_learning). The shortcuts proposed by adults are counterproductive. The first thing we should learn at school or in life are the wonders of the world. In terms of the [curriculum](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum), chemistry should precede the alphabet, physics should precede counting sequences, biology should precede reading. We turn it all upside down, and then poison the chalice by making it all compulsory. In a mix with authoritarian parenting, this is a path to the loss of [love of learning](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Pleasure_of_learning), [hate of school](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_kids_hate_school%3F), hate of people, [bullying](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Bullying), depression, drugs, mental disorders, and more. Kids without freedom make as much progress as inmates in a tough prison: instead of re-socializing, they get worse. 兒童的大腦不同于成年人的大腦。由于[神經生物學上的原因](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_amnesia)，成年人沒有辦法記住這些差別。成年人不能理解兒童的學習過程，他們必須走到一邊，讓孩子[自然地學習](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Free_learning)。成年人提出的捷徑是適得其反的。無論是在學校還是在生活中，我們首先要學習的就是世界奇跡。就[課程](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum)而言，化學應先于字母表，物理應先于計數順序，生物應先于閱讀。我們把一切都顛倒過來，然后通過強制把這一切變成毒藥。與威權教育相結合，這是一條失去[對學習的愛](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Pleasure_of_learning)，產生[對學校的仇恨](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_kids_hate_school%3F)、對人的仇恨，以及[欺凌](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Bullying)、抑郁、毒品、精神錯亂等等的道路。沒有自由的孩子和在艱苦的監獄里的囚犯一樣進步：他們不是重新融入社會，而是變得更糟。 ### 21.2 Hindsight is not 20/20 ### 后見之明并非完美 In terms of [schooling](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Schooling), _"hindsight is blurry while appearing to be 20/20"_. It comes from a typical illusion that affects the post-factum perception of neural optimization, or optimization in general. It comes from the [curse of knowledge](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curse_of_knowledge). All things that used to be difficult in the past, now may seem simple. 就[學校教育](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Schooling)而言，_「后見之明是不清楚的，似乎是完美的」_。它來自于一種典型的錯覺，這種錯覺會影響神經優化或一般優化的后因子感知。它來自[知識的詛咒](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curse_of_knowledge)。過去的一切困難事情，現在看來似乎都很簡單。 Starting the school from reading and counting is an artifact of adult-centric view of education 上學從閱讀和數數開始是一種以成年人為中心的教育觀的產物 Early instruction is the degradation of the beauty of the world to the basic abstract ingredients that are unpalatable to young minds. The ABCs should be a natural consequence of exploratory learning. The kids can quickly discover the empowering value of reading. The elation of first reading is most delicious when it comes from self-discovery. It is nearly impossible to enter the world of computer games without a good number sense. Math is sweetest when it is used as a tool on the way to a great goal. Only math connoisseurs can love math for the math sake. Usually, it takes decades to become a connoisseur. 早期教育是把世界之美退化成年輕人所不喜歡的基本抽象成分。基礎知識應該是探索性學習的自然結果。孩子們很快就能發現閱讀的力量。當第一次閱讀的喜悅來自于自我發現時，它是最美妙的。如果沒有良好的數感，進入計算機游戲的世界幾乎是不可能的。當數學被用作通往偉大目標的工具時，它是最惹人喜愛的。只有數學行家才會為了數學而熱愛數學。通常，成為一個行家需要幾十年的時間。 The never-ending drive to begin academic instruction at ever earlier ages is simply cruel. 在更早的年齡就開始接受學術教育無休止的驅使簡直是殘酷的。 > Early academic instruction without the consent of the child is inhumane and a violation of a child's rights > > 未經兒童同意的早期學術教育是不人道的，這是對兒童權利的侵犯 ### 21.3 Mountain climb example ### 爬山的例子 #### 21.3.1 Cultivating childhood passions #### 培養童年激情 The [Mountain climb metaphor of schooling](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Mountain_climb_metaphor_of_schooling) explains how the optimization of education can lead to a blind path of inefficient learning. [學校教育的爬山類比](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Mountain_climb_metaphor_of_schooling)解釋了教育的優化如何通往低效學習的迷途。 The picture below illustrates an exemplary emergence of the illusion of the benefits of schooling. All high achievement in the area of human creativity begin with a passion. The most productive passions begin early in life. The education system has an adverse affect on childhood passions \(see: [Childhood passions](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions)\). In addition to destroying the love of learning, the impact of schooling on early passions might be one of the worst side effects of the [Prussian education system](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Prussian_education_system). 下面的圖片說明了一個典型的關于學校教育好處的錯覺的出現。人類創造力領域的所有重要成就都始于激情。最富有成效的激情始于人生的早期。教育制度對兒童的激情有不利影響（參見：[童年的激情](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions)）。除了摧毀對學習的熱愛之外，學校教育對早期激情的影響可能是[普魯士教育制度](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Prussian_education_system)最嚴重的副作用之一。 The example flowchart of passionate and prolific learning begins at the time of watching a Spielberg's movie _"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"_ in the early childhood. As of that point, passions and interests spread dendritically and culminate with a PhD in astrophysics. As of that point, graduates are usually free to explore, and their further success depends on knowledge, talent, opportunities, etc. I posit that the survival of childhood passions may be the most important ingredient in further high achievement. 激情和高產學習的例子流程圖始于孩童時期看 Spielberg 的電影_「E.T.」_。在這一點上，激情和興趣像樹一樣蔓延開來，并最終以獲得天體物理學博士學位達到頂峰。在這一點上，畢業生通常是自由探索，他們的進一步成功取決于知識、人才、機會等。我認為童年激情的存續可能是取得更高成就的最重要因素。  > **Figure:** Childhood passions may meander from an ET movie, via YouTube and planets, to various branches of science. They may culminate in a PhD in astrophysics and a career in science. On the way, the child may pick up the alphabet, reading skills, algebra and other necessary basics. The road to knowledge is based on exploratory learning. The joy starts in childhood and, ideally, continues well into the retirement age > > **圖：** 童年的激情可能從一部 ET 電影，通過 YouTube 和行星，到達不同的科學分支。他們可能最終獲得天體物理學博士學位和科學生涯。在路上，孩子可以學習字母表、閱讀技巧、代數和其他必要的基礎知識。知識之路是以探索性學習為基礎的。這種快樂從童年開始，最理想的是一直持續到退休年齡。 Spielberg's movie may initiate interest in the biological aspects of the extraterrestrial life. This in turn may spark interest in life on Mars. Mars may then extend to an interest in other planets. In modern era, a child can quickly cultivate a passion for planets with YouTube. Through the YouTube recommendation system, it is easy to branch out into many directions, including the interest in general biology and the ABC of physics. Spielberg 的電影可能會引起人們對外星生命生物學方面的興趣。這反過來可能會引起人們對火星上生命的興趣。對火星的興趣隨后可能擴展到對其他行星的興趣。在現代，孩子們可以在 YouTube 上迅速培養出對行星的熱情。通過 YouTube 的推薦系統，很容易擴展到多個方向，包括對一般生物學和物理學基礎知識的興趣。 Mixing reality with fiction is a norm at this stage. This confusion is predominantly harmless. Interest in the signs of zodiac might be an example. All contradictions are resolved in the process of neural generalization. This occurs spontaneously. This is part of [knowledge crystallization](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Knowledge_crystallization). 在這一階段，現實與虛構的混合是一種常態。這種混亂在很大程度上是無害的。對十二生肖的興趣可能就是一個例子。所有的矛盾都在神經泛化的過程中得到了解決。這是自發發生的。這是[知識結晶](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Knowledge_crystallization)的一部分。 Importantly, all those interests in astronomy and physics can and should occur at preliterate stage and can also contribute to the interest in symbols. This way, instead of the usual curricular approach of early school that begins with the alphabet and counting, the child may being with the interest in star types such as G2V or M3V. This can lead to better knowledge of the letters of the alphabet, and later reading. In [democratic schools](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Democratic_school) with no [curriculum](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum) reading can emerge at 3 or at 10 depending on the child and his interests. It is always a resultant of a competition and synergy between multiple interests. Knowledge of physics and biology can be based on a good understanding of scientific models. Those can, for example, be cultivated with the assistance of [PhET simulations](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/PhET_simulations). 重要的是，所有這些對天文學和物理學的興趣可以而且應該發生在識字之前的階段，也可以有助于對符號的興趣。通過這種方式，孩子可能會對諸如 G2V 或 M3V 之類的星星類型感興趣，而不是像入學初期那樣以字母和數數開始的常規課程。這可能有助于更好地了解字母表中的字母和之后的閱讀。在沒有[課程](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Democratic_school)的[民主學校](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Democratic_school)，閱讀可以在 3 歲或 10 歲出現，這取決于孩子和他的興趣。這總是多種興趣之間的競爭和協同作用的結果。物理學和生物學的知識可以建立在對科學模型的良好理解上。例如，可以借助 [PhET 模擬](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/PhET_simulations)來培養這種理解。 [Childhood passions](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions) can germinate and branch out in many directions. All they need is a conducive exploratory environment. Passions feed on time, love, and access to knowledge. The latter is pretty easy in the era of the Internet [童年的激情](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions)可以在很多方面發芽和發展。他們所需要的只是一個有利的探索環境。激情來源于時間、愛和獲取知識的途徑。后者在互聯網時代是相當容易的。 In children with rich interests, passions can quickly cover many areas of the typical high school curriculum. The coverage may be highly superficial in terms of the specific material. However, only the actual long-term knowledge matters in the comparison. With that in mind, knowledge of [homeschoolers](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Homeschooling) and [unschoolers](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Unschooling) is usually vastly superior in terms of [stability](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Stability) and [coherence](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Coherence). This is the kind of knowledge that boasts a high degree of applicability. This is the knowledge that makes the difference in life. Our exemplary student with the ultimate PhD in astrophysics will retain her [childhood passions](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions) and pursue a career, e.g. in science, with zeal and joy. 在富有興趣的兒童中，激情可以迅速涵蓋典型的高中課程的許多領域。就特定材料而言，涵蓋內容可能過于膚淺。然而，只有實際的長期知識才是比較重要的。考慮到這一點，[在家上學的孩子](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Homeschooling)和[非學校教育的孩子](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Unschooling)的知識通常在[穩定性](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Stability)和[連貫性](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Coherence)方面要優越得多。這種知識具有很高的適用性。這就是使生活與眾不同的知識。我們的例子中的學生最終獲得天體物理學博士學位，她將保持[童年的激情](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Childhood_passions)，并滿懷熱情和喜悅地從事科學等職業。 #### 21.3.2 Replicating passions at school #### 在學校復現激情 The problem may begin when [curriculum](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum) designers try to trace backwards the development of an expert in astrophysics. It is instantly tempting to skip the ET movie, exoplanets, and ban signs of zodiac as superstitious. YouTube may not be included as it is full of potential distractions. Monothematic focus is the key to the method and a straight path to boredom. First months at school are spent on drilling the letters of the alphabet: 3 days per letter. It is easy to deprive the [curriculum](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum) from all vestiges of extraneous material that could spark new passions. High volume of learning, high [interference](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Interference), high degree of [coercive learning](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Coercive_learning), can quickly lead to the loss of the [learn drive](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Learn_drive) via [learned helplessness](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Learned_helplessness). Some kids may still enjoy long days devoted to learning the alphabet \(e.g. through the talents of the early teacher\). Few will retain their love for mathematics by the age of 10. Most will [hate their schooling experience](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_kids_hate_school%3F) by the time they are 15. There will always be some time reserved for movies, but the experience can easily be ruined by a tired brain: _"You can watch that movie once your homework is done!"_. Some of the high school graduates may still opt for a career in astrophysics. However, without a true passion, this kind of joyless pursuit in bound to result in fewer breakthrough achievements. 當[課程](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum)設計人員試圖追溯天體物理學專家的發展時，問題可能就開始了。跳過 ET 電影、系外行星，并將生肖視為迷信禁止是非常誘人的。YouTube 可能不包括在內，因為它充滿了潛在的干擾。專注單一主題是這種方法的關鍵，也是通向無聊的直接途徑。在學校的頭幾個月是用來練習字母表中的字母：每個字母 3 天。我們很容易從[課程](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Curriculum)中去除所有可能激發新激情的多余材料。高學習量、高[干擾](21.mountain-climb-metaphor-pa-shan-lei-bi.md)和高[強迫性學習](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Coercive_learning)會通過[習得性無助](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Learned_helplessness)迅速導致[學習內驅力](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Learn_drive)的喪失。一些孩子可能仍然喜歡花很長時間學習字母表（例如，通過初期老師的才能）。很少人會在 10 歲時保持對數學的熱愛。當他們 15 歲的時候，大多數人都會討厭他們的[學校教育經歷](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/Why_kids_hate_school%3F)。總會有一些時間留給電影，但這種經歷很容易被一個疲憊的大腦所破壞：_「你做完作業就可以看那部電影了！」_。一些高中畢業生可能還會選擇天體物理學的職業。然而，如果沒有真正的激情，這種無趣的追求必然會導致更少的突破性成果。  > **Figure:** When coercive learning based on a curriculum attempts to replicate a success of a child who follows its passions to a PhD in astrophysics, exploratory learning is diminished. It is replaced with linear learning devoid of passion. Knowledge loses on coherence. Comprehension is poor. Poor stability undermines the longevity of knowledge. Career in science is hardly possible. When such career is undertaken, it may be joyless and low on creative fruits > > **圖：** 當基于課程的強制性學習試圖復制一個追隨自己的熱情攻讀天體物理學博士的孩子的成功時，探索性學習就會減少。取而代之的是缺乏激情的線性學習。知識失去連貫性。理解能力很差。不穩定會破壞知識的持久性。從事科學工作幾乎是不可能的。當從事這樣的職業時，它可能是無趣的，缺乏創造性的成果 ### 21.4 Parody of the future ### 未來的拙劣模仿 If the evolution of the school system proceeds at the present rate in the present direction, we will soon teach newborns to read books about the subject of walking. This will ensure they master the theory of walking before the practice of walking. Overtime, we might even defer actual walking to later ages, or even adulthood. This is what we seem to be doing with independence and creative thinking. We defer all the challenges to the time beyond college. And then we send kids out to the world to sink at the deep end of the pool. 如果學校系統按目前的速度朝著現在的方向發展，我們很快就會教新生兒閱讀有關走路的書籍。這將確保他們在實踐走路之前先掌握走路的理論。久而久之，我們甚至可能把實際走路的年齡推遲到更大，甚至是成年。這就是我們用獨立和創造性思維所做的事情。我們把所有的挑戰都推遲到大學以后。然后我們把孩子們送到世界上，在游泳池的最深處沉入水中。 > Schooling defers the need for independent and creative thinking till adulthood > > 學校教育將獨立和創造性思維的需要推遲到成年