SOPHIE'S WORLD
(Sofies verden), by Jostein Gaarder (JG), translated from Norwegian into American by Paulette Møller (PM)Guestbook | Guestmap | Discussion forum | Inspired by...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
| CH = chapter, P = page, L = line, C = comment, N = Norwegian, T = (alternative) translation, usually closer to the original text, TTR = Two-Tier Reality (metaphysical system bridging East and West) |
||||||||
CHAPTER 30: DARWIN (PP335-355) |
||||||||
|
||||||||
| P335 L3: fallen asleep T: with the ring-binder on the duvet L4: by T: over L9: When T: As L9: legislators who were to wake up in a society they themselves had created C: Creating laws does not create a society L12: Would she have dared to wake up in Norway without knowing whereabouts in Norway she would wake up? C: What nonsense! L18: animal hide T: fur rug L21: Could she have had thoughts at all? C: Sentence added by PM L22: heaved T: lifted L23: to read the next chapter T: read further in the long letter from her father L27: said T: muttered | ||||||||
| P336 L2: a board on which was painted T: a chart with L6: I guessed as much T: So I assumed L7: Your oldest (T: Your own) ancestor L8: ancestors T: forefathers L13: tend T: water L14: jump T: hop L14(cont): he clicked his heels (T: struck his feet) together in the air and skipped merrily away (T: skipped off) into the woods in the manner peculiar to very old men now and then T: as only really old men with a good sense of humour can do L18: had a chance to T: could L21: Okay, okay T: Just begin! L25: with great pomp and ceremony T: ceremoniously L26: distinguished T: great L27: Marx's T: Marx L28: his greatest work, Capital T: his great work, Das Kapital L30: Engels said: As Darwin discovered the theory (T: laws) of (T: nature's) organic evolution, so Marx discovered the theory (T: laws) of mankind's historical evolution C: All theories and laws are man-made; they are invented/created, not discovered. Darwin developed 'laws' to describe and summarise his scientific findings and what he saw as their implications; Marx sought to be regarded as a scientist - an historical scientist - but succeeded only in creating a myth which turned out to be a powerful substitute for a crumbling religion L34: great T: important L35: years T: year L36: Freud said that both Darwin's theory of evolution and his own psychoanalysis had resulted in an affront to (T: had offended) mankind's naïve egoism T: self-love L38: Are we T: But we are L39: or T: and L40: current T: movement L41: By "naturalistic" we mean a sense (T: view) of reality that accepts (T: recognises) no other reality than nature and the sensory (T: perceptible) world | ||||||||
| P337 L2: A naturalistic scientist will exclusively rely on natural phenomena - not on either rationalistic suppositions or (T: and thus neither on rationalistic speculations nor on) any form of divine revelation C: There is no science without suppositions L7: pointed out T: asserted L8: the (T: material) basis of society L9: the (T: a) result of a slow T: long L12: naturalistic T: naturalism L14: we T: to LL16/17: distance T: free L24: the man T: himself L25: renowned T: well-known L29: never doing (a stroke of) anything (that was the slightest bit) useful L32: clambered T: ran L37: grades T: exam results L38: scientist, not least due to his interest in (T: scientist. Not the least of his interests was) geology L42: the same (T: that) year | ||||||||
| P338 L2: his whole (T: the rest of his) life L14: He wished ardently to grasp (T: He had an intense desire to seize) the chance L17: it T: salary L22: And now we come to one of the most important voyages (T: We are talking about the most important voyage) of discovery in recent times L25: They (T: literally) sailed L28: setting sail for T: returning to L34: inland T: on land L34: forays into T: landings on L40: he had an inwardly (T: in his own mind a) clear picture L42: as is fitting for a scientist T: as a scientist should be | ||||||||
| P339 L6: résumé T: summary C: Then two sentences omitted (Norwegian translation of book title) L7: He certainly packed a lot into one title T: Yes, that title was rich in content L8: piece by piece T: bit by bit L10: forms were T: species are L11: Secondly, (T: he maintained) that L14: evolution. This, in itself was not all that (T: evolution itself. This, alone, was not so) original. L17: leading spokesman for this idea (T: most influential) was L19: some T: a L22: any great threat T: dangerous opponents L24: in ecclesiastic(al) and (T: many/some) scientific circles L27: once and for all T: through a special act of creation L28: moreover T: also L30: Plato's theory of ideas presupposed (T: assumed) that all animal species were immutable because they were made after patterns of (T: were patterned on the) eternal ideas or forms LL34/36: finds T: discoveries L37: dug out T: discovered/ excavated L38: finds of large (T: big finds of) fossil bones L39: traces T: remains L40: mountains of the Andes T: Andes (mountains) L41(cont): What is a sea creature doing in the Andes, Sophie? Can you tell me that? C: No, but Velikovsky could | ||||||||
| P340 L3: God had created these fossils and traces (T: remains) of sea creatures to lead the ungodly astray C: What a divine sense of humour! L6: Most geologists swore (C: But not in the presence of ladies) to (T: subscribed to) a "catastrophe theory" ... the Earth had been subjected to (T: struck by) gigantic floods, earthquakes and other catastrophes that had destroyed all (C: much but not all) life C: cf. Velikovsky L10: God ... creating new - and more perfect - plants and animals C: Why weren't they perfect to begin with? L13: after T: by L18: geology T: geography L18: (T: high) mountains and (T: deep) valleys L19: gradual (T: slow) evolution L19: point T: idea L20: (Lyell) quite small changes could cause geological upheavals T: could eventually lead to great geographical changes C: Why not gradual evolution and catastrophes? L23: forces that prevail T: operating L26: not by brute force T: not by force L27: alter the face of nature T: change nature L28: (Lyell's) theory alone (C: alone?!) could not explain why Darwin found the remains of sea creatures high up in the Andes C: Exactly! L29(cont): (But) Darwin always remembered (T: never gave up the idea) that tiny gradual changes could result in dramatic alterations T: changes L34: that was his thought T: he considered that idea L36: (Darwin) used the same method as all true philosophers: it is important to ask but there is no haste to provide the answer T: it is not always urgent to find an answer | ||||||||
| P341 L1: figured T: estimated L5: validity T: meaning L8: we know that the Earth is 4.6 billion years old C: Maybe L10: Up to now, we have looked at T: So far, we have concentrated on L13: could contribute T: contributed L14: (Darwin) had seen with his own eyes that the individuals of a single species of animal within the same region could differ from each other in only the minutest detail T: that (the) various/different animal species in a region could be distinguished (from one another) by very small differences L22: tiny T: small LL23/25: tortoises T: turtles L28: striking T: important L28: The Galapagos finches were (T: finch species) clearly varied L30: variations were closely linked to the way the finches found their food T: to what the finches ate L31: The (T: sharp-beaked) ground finches (with steeply profiled beaks) L33: termites T: insects L33: bark T: tree-trunks L36: had the finches (T: this species) adapted to their (T: its) surroundings L38: that (T: eventually) new | ||||||||
| P342 L3: he still had no viable (T: good) explanation as to (T: of) how such an evolution had occurred T: how a possible development or adaptation to the environment could happen L5(cont): But there was one more factor to indicate that all the animals on Earth might be related T: It could also be argued / There was also evidence / that all animals on Earth are related L7(cont): And what was that? T: Yes? L8(cont): (T: It concerned) The development of the embryo in mammals L10: You cannot distinguish a human embryo from a rabbit embryo (C: especially a white rabbit embryo) until a very late stage. Shouldn't this indicate that we are distant relatives? C: The reference was to all animals. Not all animals are mammals. L21: his T: its L22: theory of the heredity of (T: of hereditary) "acquired characteristics" L28: So what was it? T: I am waiting for the point L29(cont): I would rather you worked T: I'd prefer you to work L37: had T: has L40: (choose) best milker. Then its calf would probably be a good milker too C: Only if female | ||||||||
| P343 L3: finding T: trailing L3: shoot T: hunt L13: produces T: shows L16: I'll say T: Yes, that's true L18: at work T: in place / operating L20: selection T: mechanism L22: I would guess T: I bet L24: take place T: work L32: balance T: check L34: population T: p. situation L35: believed T: pointed out L38: huge T: large L38: destined T: doomed L40: race T: species | ||||||||
| P344 L5: race T: species L5: second T: other L6: The elephant is (reckoned) the slowest breeder of all (known) animals L7: but if ... to a hundred C: phrase inserted by PM L8: after a period of (from 740 to) 750 years L10: thousands of cods' eggs from a single cod C: And if she finds a mate, that makes an ironic double cod L11: proposed T: pointed out L12: among T: between L12: the most T: closely L13: the slightest (T: a small) advantage L14: the infinitesimal variation T: a small positive variation from the norm/average L15: evolution T: development L18: the bigger the brood T: the greater the progeny L21: a matter of survival T: an advantage L24: have a repellent taste T: taste bad L31: delirious (T: sweet) scents L32: are instrumental in T: contribute to L35: The bull's (T: individual's) sole (C: ?!) purpose in life is to ... propagate the race T: species C: Humans do not see propagation of the species as our sole purpose in life, so perhaps the bull too has its raison d'être | ||||||||
| P345 L4: term T: run L6: vital T: very important L7: necessary T: important L9: because of these many (T: there are so many different) niches L11: only one human race T: species L12: unique T: fantastic L14: under such terrible climatic conditions T: in such a cold climate L17: in the more northerly T: in northerly L23: sun vitamins C: Vitamin D L23: vital T: important L25: nothing in nature is random T: fortuitous C: Unjustified generalisation L26: Everything (C: ?!) is due to infinitesimal (T: very small) changes C: Plus mutations L30: in a few sentences T: as follows L33: of T: between L37: ensured T: has always ensured L38: math sum T: maths problem L40: It was the cause of bitter controversies T: It caused bitter controversy L41: the scientific world T: in England L42: Darwin ... distanced God a good way (T: removed God some distance) from the act of creation T: itself | ||||||||
| P346 L1(cont): although there were admittedly some who claimed T: were some who rightly claimed that L3: than (T: so to speak) simply to create a fixed entity T: create everything in detail once and for all L27: not before T: earlier L29: Holy Moses! N: Du verden! C: DIY! L32: embarrassing T: humiliating L35: were T: felt L36: revise T: review L38: alone T: in peace | ||||||||
| P347 L1: toppled T: crumbled L1: The essence of Darwin's theory was the utterly random (T: completely fortuitous) variations (C: Maybe) which had finally produced Man C: Darwin's theory does not exclude an element of internal purpose (cf. Sheldrake) and/or external intervention L5: random T: fortuitous L9: crossing T: 'interbreeding' C: combination of genes from male and female L9(cont): A father and mother never get two identical offspring C: How about identical twins (with the same genes)? L15: What's that? T: Tell me! L21: infinitesimal T: tiny L23 Mutations are either (T: may be) totally irrelevant (C: irrelevant to what?), or they can (T: but they may) lead to marked changes in the behaviour (T: qualities/characteristics) of the individual. L26: broods T: litters / offspring groups L27: sometimes a mutation can give an individual (C: a plus and a minus at the same time) just that (extra) positive characteristic needed to hold its own T: improve its chances L32: reach T: stretch L34: a (T: natural) variation L35: cause of just that particular variation T: for such variations to arise L38: Absolutely random T: Quite fortuitous L38: factors T: material L40: vital enough T: quite important | ||||||||
| P348 L2: two (T: different) species L3: way natural selection can work T: works C: Then sentence omitted: T: The principle is very simple L5(cont): Yes, please T: Go on L8: silvery gray T: light grey L12: born T: hatched L25: it was no longer an (T: a survival) advantage L34: interferes in T: affects | ||||||||
| P349 L5: food for thought T: something to think about L9: administer T: use L10: a group (T: types) of bacteria L15: a tiny bit exaggerated T: going a little too far L17: a single bacterium has T: particular bacteria have L22: contributing to weakening T: weaken L31: Okay T: Go ahead L35: have disappeared, you see T: have of course disappeared L36: takes T: has taken L42: Yes, that'a another way of saying it T: As you say | ||||||||
| P350 LL1-2: picture T: chart L3: covered one side of it T: was on one side L3: was devoted to T: bore L6: C: Opening phrase added by PM: Our Darwinian Noah also brought us L6(cont): a sketch that shows (T: The sketch shows) the distribution (T: division/ classification) of the various vegetable and animal species L7(cont): You can see how the different species belong in the different groups, classes and subkingdoms N: grupper, klasser og rekker C: The taxonomic tree for the animal and vegetable kingdoms runs: subkingdom=phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. It is not clear to which of these groups JG and PM are referring L11: monkeys T: apes L15: distribution C: See L7 LL17-19: parted T: separated off / diverged L22: in a new species T: in new species L23: animals arose C: Then sentence omitted: T: But this is a very simplified sketch L26: an animal group (T: order) such as the Trilobita (T: trilobites) is totally extinct L29: two billion (T: billions of) years L31: in all probability plants come from the same primal cell as animals C: What 'primal cell'?! L37: I said, did I not T: As I said L39: qualified (T: pure) guess L40: hot (T: warm) pool L41: all manner of ammoniacal and phosphorous (T: kinds of ammonia and phosphorus) salts | ||||||||
| P351 L1: electricity ... present C: In a pool? How? L5: What Darwin was philosophising (T: speculating) on here was how the first living cell (C: What 'first living cell'?) might have been formed out of inorganic matter L7: Scientists of today think the first primitive form of life arose in precisely the kind of "hot little pool" that Darwin pictured C: Maybe L10: Go on T: Tell me! L14: I'm rather apprehensive T: a little nervous L17: Well? T: Go on! L24: We also use the term (T: speak of the) DNA molecule L37: It is unlikely that (life) cells ... could have arisen in an atmosphere containing oxygen C: But water can absorb only a small amount of oxygen, however oxygen-rich the atmosphere may be L41: oxygen is strongly (T: chemically highly) reactive L41(cont): Long before complex molecules like DNA could be (T: could have been) formed, the DNA molecular cells would be (T: would have been) oxydized T: oxidised C: Not necessarily in water, surely? | ||||||||
| P352 L4: That is how we know for certain (C: for certain?!) that no new life arises today, not even so much as a bacterium or a virus C: Life is found in deep rock strata under anaerobic conditions, so there is no apparent reason to rule out the possible formation of new bacteria and/or viruses in these rocks. L5(cont): All life on earth must be exactly the same age C: Idea based on mythical concept of 'the primal cell' L11: That's an odd thought T: a remarkable idea L13: function in spite of the fact that not all T: function. For not all L18: the whole recipe (T: formula) for the organism in question T: that organism L20: no oxygen ... no protective ozone layer C: An ozone molecule is made up of three oxygen atoms L21: there was nothing to stop (T: block) the radiation from the cosmos C: Ozone is an effective radiation blocker, but the other gases in the atmosphere also block(ed) some radiation L22: significant T: important L23: this radiation was probably instrumental (T: probably played an important role) in forming the first complex molecule(s) L26: (a) complicated (T: complex) macromolecule(s) L32: I get it T: understand L34: gigantically complicated T: extremely complex L35: wondrous T: amazing L40: one of these monocellular organisms connected with a more complicated multicellular organism T: (it happened that) such unicellular organisms combined to form more complex multicellular organisms | ||||||||
| P353 L1: in that way T: so L5: probably T: perhaps L7: the atmosphere can't have been formed overnight C: The atmosphere, composed of various gases, existed before oxygen formation L11: when life in the oceans had formed an atmosphere C: The atmosphere pre-dated life L16: And yet you don't think (T: you think) it all happened quite accidentally? T: by chance? L17: The picture on this board (T: The chart) shows that evolution had a direction C: Looking back, that could be said of any development, fortuitous or otherwise L20: I don't think that can be accidental T: fortuitous C: Why not? Alberto has put forward no valid arguments to support his view L20(cont): What do you think? C: Life directs its own development L21: Don't you think there is meaning in our being able to see the world around us? C: Yes. It means we have our eyes open L32: Those are the words of the Devil C: Of Goethe, rather L37: As Faust dies and looks back (T: is dying and looking back) on his life's work T: deeds | ||||||||
| P354 L5: poetic T: beautiful L16: best T: better L17: he would leave T: had left L24: When we have carried this cargo (of genes) safely to the next harbor, (then) we have not lived in vain C: i.e. when we have children. But childless people also contribute to the development of mankind L25: Thomas Hardy N: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson ... "Salme II" | ||||||||
| P355 L7: very pretty T: delightful C: Grandpa, what a big memory you have! - All the better to impress you with, my dear! L10: I shall be obeyed! T: You must heed my words! | ||||||||