Toward a New Enlightenment World Congress a Resounding Success!
面向新启蒙：第25届世俗人道主义委员会世界大会取得圆满成功！
By: Nathan Bupp
巴普 ?雷森
The Council for Secular Humanism at the Center for Inquiry hosted its 25th Anniversary World Congress, "Toward a New Enlightenment" in Amherst, New York from October 27- 30th. The conference attracted well over 800 attendees, about a third of whom came from overseas, making this one of the Council's best attended conferences. Conference organizers brought together some 41 speakers―including two Nobel laureates―from 22 countries and a broad array of fields and disciplines.
国际探索中心举办的世俗人道主义委员会第25届世界大会――面向新启蒙――于2005年10月27日至30日在纽约安赫斯特召开，有800多人出席了会议，其中三分之一来自海外，是该委员会与会人数最多、举办最成功的会议之一。会议组织了大约41位发言人，他们来自22个国家的各个领域和学科，其中有两位是诺贝尔奖获得者。
The conference began Thursday afternoon with an exciting opening ceremony. This included special welcoming remarks from William Greiner, former president of the State University of New York at Buffalo, and Arnold Gardner, member of the New York State Board of Regents, an opening address by Paul Kurtz on the New Enlightenment, and of all things, a surprise appearance from Charles Darwin, played (of course) by Clyde "Kipp" Herreid, a distinguished professor of biology at the University at Buffalo. Of special significance was a multi-media retrospective of humanism's heroes and heroines titled "In Praise of Free Inquiry." At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, conference-goers were treated to Mozart's Sonata in D-Major for Two Pianos performed by Buffalo's own world-class pianists Frieda and Stephen Manes.
在一个令人兴奋的开幕式后，会议于星期四下午正式开始。 当天，在布法罗的纽约州立大学原校长威廉姆格雷纳和纽约州议员阿诺德 嘎尔德纳，向与会代表致以意味深长的欢迎词， 保罗 库尔茨致题为“新启蒙”的开幕词，除此以外，还有更令人兴奋的是，著名的布法罗纽约州立大学的生物学教授，科立德 赫雷德化装成查尔兹 达尔文的现场表演。而特别值得一提的是一部“自由探索赞”的关于人道主义英雄的多媒体回顾。开幕式结束的时候，由州立大学的世界级钢琴大师福瑞达和史惕芬马尼斯为大家演奏莫扎特的D大调钢琴合奏曲，更加令人兴奋异常。
After an opening panel chaired by Paul Kurtz called Secularism, Humanism, and Democracy, the Thursday night keynote address was delivered by Richard Dawkins. In addition to the registered conference audience, many from the local community came out to hear Dawkins speak. Dawkins enthralled the crowd with his take-no-prisoners approach, and often cutting, but witty remarks directed toward those who embrace Intelligent Design―including President Bush. At one point he displayed a power-point slide which read simply―"intellectually lazy." One of Dawkins' most salient points came to the fore when he said, "The argument [is] that because living things appear to be so statistically improbable, so fantastically complex, therefore they must have been designed, I shall show, on the contrary, the more improbable, the more statistically improbable and complex something is, the less likely it is to be designed. The only thing that can conceivably, as far as we know, explain the illusion of design in living things is Darwinian Natural Selection." At the conclusion of his address, Dawkins fielded a wide range of questions from the audience.
开幕式以后，保罗 库尔茨主持召集了有人道主义者、世俗主义者和民主人士参加的一个简短的动员会，星期四晚上，由里查德 道金斯做报告，除了注册的与会人员，当地社区的居民也走出来聆听了道金斯的发言。道金斯用他那种让人无拘束的演讲风格，迷倒了听众，他不时地切入并机智地评论那些拥护智能设计的人士――包括布什总统。在一些关键点上，他用了使人容易读懂的幻灯――“真实一种聪明的懒惰”。道金斯的最突出的观点是，他说“争论产生的原因是，从统计上看，如此复杂的生物的出现是不可能的，所以，他们肯定是被设计出来的。而我将向大家展示，越是不可能的、从统计上看越是复杂和不可能的事物，也就越不可能被设计出来。到目前为止，我们唯一可以构想和解释的生物设计的图景就是达尔文的自然选择”。在发言结束的时候，道金斯回答了观众提出的一系列问题。
On Friday morning, conference participants packed the main ballroom at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo for an exciting day of sessions. David Koepsell, executive director of CSH, chaired the opening panel called "Secularism and the Threat of Fundamentalism." Papers were delivered by Jean-Claude Pecker, Ioanna Kucuradi, Lionel Tiger, and famous physicist Lawrence Krauss, who spoke on why Intelligent Design is simply a red herring to conceal a concerted effort from a variety of groups―including the White House―to attack and marginalize science. The luncheon panel was chaired by former executive director of CSH, Ed Buckner. Presentations were delivered by Richard Dawkins, Margaret Downey from the Greater Philadelphia Freethought Society, and psychologist R. Elisabeth Cornwell from Scotland. The afternoon session on Science and Fundamentalism was chaired by Center for Inquiry?Metro, New York, chairman Austin Dacey. Chris Mooney, author of the new book The Republican War on Science, detailed the rise of the conservative think tanks in America, and the often-bogus science they sponsor. Dr. Etienne-Emile Baulieu from France, from Bangladesh, moderate Muslim activist Fatemolla, and psychiatrist Thomas Szasz were also part of the panel.
星期五上午，与会者来到布法罗市中心的Hyatt Regency，举行了令人兴奋的一天会期。CSH执行主任David Koepsell博士主持了一个名为“世俗主义者和原教旨主义的威胁”的小组会，Jean-Claude Pecker, Ioanna Kucuradi, Lionel Tiger提交了论文，著名物理学家Lawrence Krauss做了发言，说明为什么“智能设计”只不过是一群不和群的红鲱鱼的变种，这群人中包括白宫，他们攻击和妄图使科学边缘化。午宴讨论由CSH原执行主任Ed Buckner召集。来自“大Philadelphia 自由思想学会”的Richard Dawkins, Margaret Downey做了发言，来苏格兰的物理学家R. Elisabeth Cornwell也进行了演讲。下午的会议主要围绕“科学和原教旨主义”来进行，由纽约探索中心主席Austin Dacey 主持。一本新书的〈共和国的科学之战〉作者Chris Mooney，详细描述了美国保守思想的兴起，以及他们经常发布的一些伪科学；来自法国的Etienne-Emile Baulieu博士，巴格达人，温和的穆斯林活动家Fatemolla和精神病专家Thomas Szasz也参加了会议。
Paul Kurtz hosted the Friday night reception and banquet at the Buffalo-Niagara Marriott Hotel in Amherst. Kurtz began the banquet with a few words reflecting and reminiscing on the founding of Free Inquiry magazine and the Council for Secular Humanism some 25 years ago. He pointed out just how prophetic the magazines founding statement has turned out to be―first articulated back in the winter of 1980. "A Secular Humanist Declaration," (drafted by Kurtz) attempted to defend the Enlightenment and secular humanist values and virtues and pointed out the dangers of the rapid growth and popularity of the Christian fundamentalist Right and their attempts to seize political power. Here we are 25 years later, and the political right wing has become thoroughly entrenched in the political process―gaining enormous power. Immediately following his opening remarks, Kurtz surprised everyone with a birthday cake celebrating the Council's 25th anniversary and an impromptu version of "Happy Birthday," with the large crowd joining in. Sir Harold Kroto, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, delivered the second keynote address of the conference. Amidst serious concerns about the fundamentalist's war on science, he reminded everyone that bringing science education to young people is not only an important task, but a joyful endeavor full of value and purpose. He highlighted the power of the Internet to reach the public, played videos from his Web site, www.vega.org.uk, and shared stories from his many adventures bringing Buckyballs and soccer balls to the children of the world. His inspiring work brought the guests to their feet and left most feeling ready to go out and change the world. During the special awards ceremony, Paul Kurtz bestowed awards to Kroto, Ioanna Kucuradi, Ibn Warraq, Mona Abousenna, and in absentia, Mourad Wahba (who was ill and could not attend) for their courage and persistence in furthering the aims of science, humanism, and secularism, worldwide. Following the ceremony, the evening was capped off with a performance by Max Maven, world-renowned "mind reader," who dazzled the audience with his displays of psychological subterfuge and razor-sharp wit.
保罗 库尔茨作为东道主在安赫斯特的布法尼加拉瓜的罗马里澳饭店，主持了星期五晚上的晚宴招待会。招待会开始的时候，保罗 库尔茨简要回顾了25年前《自由探索》杂志创刊和世俗人道主义委员会成立的情景。他向大家反映，当时的杂志创刊词是如何预言未来发展的，那时在1980年的冬天，当时发表了“人道主义者宣言”（由他自己写了草稿），只是试图捍卫启蒙运动的成果，捍卫世俗人道主义者的价值观和品德，同时指出左翼基督教原教旨主义者迅速发展和蔓延的危险，他们企图掌握政权。25年以后的今天，而这些政治上的左翼已经完全介入政治过程――获得了巨大的权力。简短的致辞以后，库尔茨紧接着给大家一个惊喜，推出了一个庆祝委员会25周年的生日蛋糕，大家合唱着“生日快乐”，晚宴正式开始。诺贝尔化学奖获得者，Harold Kroto先生接着进行主题发言，他严肃地指出，原教旨主义对科学发起了“战争”， 他提醒大家，向青年人提供科学教育，不仅是一项重要的任务，而且是一种充满乐趣的有意义的和有价值的努力。他重视国际互联网对公众的影响力，在他自己的网站www.vega.org.uk上播放视频，为那些热衷于足球和Buckyballs的世界儿童提供他自己的科学奇遇，分享他的故事。他的鼓舞人心的工作带动了与会者的脚步，他们充满激情，准备要走出去改变这个世界。随后举行了特别的颁奖仪式，库尔茨向Kroto, Ioanna Kucuradi, Ibn Warraq, Mona Abousenna颁奖，获奖者Mourad Wahba由于生病没能出席。这些获奖者在全球致力于和坚持着一个目标，就是促进科学、人文主义和世俗主义。仪式之后，世界著名的“心理解读家”（mind reader），Max Maven进行了晚间表演，他用他的心理学诡计和剃刀智慧，使观众耳目一新。
Saturday morning began with a Center for Inquiry board meeting over breakfast to discuss the organization's future agenda to mount a rigorous defense of the New Enlightenment. Saturday morning's panel, chaired by Richard Hull, found everyone back once again at the University at Buffalo. This panel focused on the intersection of reason, ethics, morals, and values. Distinguished philosopher Antony Flew, delivered a paper tilted "A Syllabus for Moral Education." Flew―a strong conservative―tried to defend traditional morality grounded in secular values. Philosopher John Novak, from Brock University in Ontario, Canada, delivered a talk on Values and Educational Living―grounded firmly in the tradition of John Dewey. Other papers were presented by Michael Ardon from Israel and Dr. Dennis Razis from Greece.
星期六早餐期间，探索中心召开了各部门领导会议，讨论机构的未来议程，以登上严峻的捍卫新启蒙运动的征程。上午的会议由Richard Hull主持，把大家再次召集到布法罗大学。这次会议聚焦在理性、伦理、道德和价值等问题上。杰出的哲学家Antony Flew提交了一篇题为“道德教育大纲”的论文，弗路，一个很保守的人，也一直致力于捍卫基于世俗价值观的传统道德。哲学家John Novak，来自加拿大奥太罗的布劳克大学，坚定地继承约翰 杜威的传统，谈论了“教育的生命和价值”。还有来自以色列的Michael Ardon和希腊的Dennis Razis博士也做了发言。
The afternoon panel, The Scientific Examination of Religion, was moderated by R. Joseph Hoffmann from Wells College in Aurora, New York and director of the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion (CSER). (See separate report below)
下午的会议主要是关于“宗教的科学检查”话题，由来自纽约澳罗拉的威尔士大学R. Joseph Hoffmann协调，他是宗教科学检查委员会主任。以下是相关的报告。
One of the truly magnificent events of the conference came on Saturday night, when a group of conference attendees and speakers gathered at the Center for Inquiry for a semi-formal, black-tie- optional affair, to celebrate the grand opening of CFI's 2.5 million dollar new wing expansion of it's transnational headquarters in Amherst. Partygoers were joined by special guests of honor Richard Dawkins and Ann Druyan, CSICOP Fellow, and wife of the late Carl Sagan. The champagne and hors d'oeuvre were flowing, as we were all entertained by an elegant string quartet. Richard Dawkins was particularly entranced by them, at one point uttering in his indomitable British style, "the string quartet is absolutely superb!"
这次大会的真正绚丽的事件之一是星期六晚上，一组与会者和演讲这汇集到探索中心总部，庆祝它的在安赫斯特的国际总部第三期工程的完工和开放，这期扩展工程花费250万美元，就像从原来的建筑上伸出了一个新的翅膀。这是一次半正式的、自发决定的集会。随行的有一些特殊的嘉宾，他们是里查德 道金斯和CSICOP研究员、已故卡儿萨根的夫人安 德如燕。伴随着优雅的玄乐四重奏，香滨酒和各种饮料不停地流入嘉宾的杯中，里查德 道金斯尤其被音乐引入大厅，用一种不屈不饶的英国风格发出感慨，“玄乐四重奏绝对超级棒！”
On Sunday morning, attendees split up for two concurrent sessions: "The New Enlightenment in the Islamic World" chaired by the distinguished Ibn Warraq (see report below), and a panel chaired by Vern Bullough on "What is Necessary to Achieve a New Enlightenment?" This panel was truly transnational in scope, as taking part in the discussions were members of the International Academy of Humanism, Ruben Ardila from Columbia, Professor Valerii Kuvakin from Moscow, Svetozar Stojanovic from Belgrade, and Innaiah Narasetti from India.
星期天上午，与会者被分成两个会场：“以斯兰世界的新启蒙”，由Ibn Warraq主持；“新启蒙运动的必要性何在？”，由Vern Bullough主持，这个会场的参加者是真正的国际性的，参加讨论的成员大多来自国际人道主义学院，有哥伦比亚的Ruben Ardila，莫斯科的Valerii Kuvakin教授，巴格达的Svetozar Stojanovic和印度的Innaiah Narasetti。
This concluded the conference, but not the weekend. Skeptical Inquirer managing editor Benjamin Radford and director of grants and special projects Sherry Rook, led a group of conference attendees on a bus excursion to the pride of Western New York, Niagara Falls. Trip goers enjoyed a dramatic view of the Falls at night, illuminated by an ever-changing gallery of colored lights, and got to experience an IMAX theatre presentation on the history of old Niagara.
会议到此结束，但不是周末的结束。《怀疑的探索者》安排了编辑Benjamin Radford，授权部和特殊项目部主任Sherry Rook，领着一些与会者，乘着汽车，来到令人骄傲的纽约西部的尼加拉瓜大瀑布观察夜景，大家为瀑布的夜景所倾倒，彩色的灯光交替变换着，他们还经历了一次由IMAX剧场提供的关于旧尼加拉瓜演变的历史展现。
All in all the World Congress was a grand success, with an abundance of enthusiasm sparked, and a shared desire to continue the dialog amongst the 800 or so participants. We have already developed a list serve where members can exchange ideas and join the battle, "Toward a New Enlightenment."
总之，世界大会取得了巨大成功，就像一束充满热情的火花，带着分享和交流的欲望，在800多的参会者之间对话。我们已经开发了一系列的服务，可以为大家交流思想和加入到这场战斗中来提供方便，这就是“面向新的启蒙”。
Nathan Bupp is director of communications for the Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry and an associate editor of Free Inquiry magazine
作者是世俗人道主义委员会和探索中心的通联部主任，是《自由探索》杂志社的助理编辑。