史蒂芬·霍金(Stephen Hawking)在1942年1月8日出生于英國牛津。2018年3月14日,他離開了人世。 在牛津大學讀書的最后一年,他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己動作越來越笨拙,時常不知緣由地摔跤,劃船也變得力不從心。有一次,他還從樓梯上摔下來并且頭先著地,造成暫時的記憶力輕微喪失。 在劍橋大學時,狀況更加惡化,他的講話有些含糊不清?;艚鸬母改赣H也注意到他的健康問題,因此帶他去看??漆t(yī)生。在21歲時,醫(yī)生診斷其患有肌萎縮性脊髓側(cè)索硬化癥(即漸凍癥),只剩兩年可活。 面對著如此突如其來的災難,他卻迎難而上,積極樂觀面對生活,他認為: The victim should have the right to end his life, if he wants. But I think it would be a great mistake. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope.
得知患病的這兩年以來,霍金積極接受治療,樂觀面對生活,他說: My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus.
他覺得患病之后生活中發(fā)生的一切、每多活的一秒鐘、每多呼吸的一口空氣,都是他的恩賜。 隨著兩年光陰飛馳而去,他仍舊活著,很奇妙地,病情的惡化漸漸緩慢下來。 他不但奇跡般了熬過了那兩年,而且還比醫(yī)生預計的整整多活了55年。 不知是什么原因,在60年代后期,霍金的身體狀況又開始惡化,行動走路都必須使用拐杖,不再能定期教課。 由于霍金逐漸失去寫字能力,他自己發(fā)展出一種替代的視覺性方法,他在腦里形成各種不同的心智圖案與心智方程,他可以用這些心智元素來思考物理問題。他說: Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.
霍金不愿對惡疾低頭,甚至不愿接受任何幫助。他最喜歡被視為是科學家,然后是科普作家,最重要的是,被視為正常人,擁有與其他人相同的欲望、干勁、夢想與抱負。 60年代末期,經(jīng)過不斷勸說,霍金才同意使用輪椅。面對著殘疾的自己,他卻欣然接受自己的缺陷,他說: One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist.....Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.
霍金的言語功能逐年退步,到了70年代后期,只剩下他的家人或密友能夠聽得懂他的話。 為了與其他人通話,他必須依賴翻譯。 在霍金的辦公室大樓門口,沒有設置專門給輪椅通行的殘障坡道,劍橋大學不愿負擔搭建殘障坡道所需的款項,因此霍金與劍橋發(fā)生爭執(zhí)。 后來,他與妻子共同發(fā)起活動敦促劍橋改善殘障設施。自此之后,他成了殘障人的“代言人”,他是這樣鼓勵殘障人的: My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrating on your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit as well as physically.
霍金的這種“不向命運低頭”的精神有一部分是受到了他科學家的身份和無神論者的思想影響。他不相信上帝,更不相信命運的擺弄。他認為: I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization that there probably is no heaven and no afterlife either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe and for that, I am extremely grateful.
偉大的科學家——霍金教授逝世了,希望他能安息!希望他堅韌不屈的精神長存于后世。 最后,奉上霍金教授的其它精彩語錄: We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.
Quiet people have the loudest minds.
One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.
My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
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