Thursday, December 14, 2006

Thoughts on Global Competitiveness (Part 2) / 世貿竸爭 (下篇)

(意譯十二月十日英文版)

世貿的第二個基本問題,就是怎樣定斷每一個經濟中心發展轉變的速度。常聽聞市民關注,覺得應被保留的建築物和歷史遺物,都被投資者毀壞鏟平,以發展為名, 起了醜陋的大厦和停車場。支持保謢文物的人,就說發展實在太快,社会不應該只是經濟掛帥。但在投資者來看,除舊立新,是理所当然,發展越快就越好,保証不会在世貿市場,被淘汰出局。

兩方面不同的覌點,忘記過去,保留記憶,又誰是誰非呢?我認為在這日飛月異的新世界,發展是新陳代謝,是不可避免的階段。人類之所以能夠生存,就是依靠我們能記憶、也能忘記的双重能力。很明顯,人類的文明,是一代傳一代記憶積聚而成的,保存了千多年的歷史文化宝物,毀於一旦,就太可惜了。但是,能夠放棄和忘記過往,也是適者生存其中之一個條件。試想,如果您数千年歷代早先早宗,都在您腦中告訴您应該怎樣决定和做事,那又怎能創新?另一例子,我們總不能保留由出生至現在,每一刻身或心受的痛楚,能夠忘記過往,能將一部份記憶放入「儲物室」,是人類生存重要的適应能力之一。我建議在决定發展轉變速度之快慢,和討論文化遺物的去留,社会有關人仕,都需要合作,從社會進化發展的大前題來看,衡量建築物和歷史遺物,对這一代和後代的重要性和價值(留意這是包括社会經濟、文化、環保、本地行政等的廣泛價值)。又在討論期間,勿忘將主覌的「文化遺產」和「價值」定義,開心見誠的討論,希望能達成一個協議,同意「快、慢、去、留」决定的步驟和凖則。

在此,我選擇了中國戰略家孫子,在公元前五百一十二年說的一段話,作為這篇的結論:『是故智者之慮,必雜于利害,雜于利而務可信也,雜于害而患可解也。』就是說智慧的人,一定要居安思危,処害思利,利和害就像陰与陽一樣,双生双息,利中有害,害中帶利。故此在討論和策劃世界經濟競爭期間,我們一定要同意和判斷利与害之關係,一定要在利害中找出一個合理的平衡。孫子所說的原理,在今時今日二零零六年,我認為仍是很適用。

6 comments:

xiao zhu said...

Changes always consist of uncertainty. That's why most people don't like or wouldn't initiate for changes. Mind you, there are also warriors in the society who would strive for human felicity by all means with no regrets. Every coin must have two sides to become one. Equilibrium is the natural norm that can't be violated.

xiaozhu

(Don't know why, I failed to log in as a Blogger. I just try via google account.)

Haricot 微豆 said...

Hi Xiaozhu: There are actually coins that have the same face for both sides !! Ha, I am pulling your leg on this one. Those are coins for cheaters.

I agree with you that people usually don't like changes. Now, as to equilibrium being a "natural" norm, here is a thought: To a person inside an elevator, everything seems to be in natural equilibrium. But for an observer outside, the whole elevator might be crashing down toward the ground (actually I am stealing this from Einstein's Relativity Theory). So perhaps, equilibrium may also be determined by circumstances and people. Just my two cents worth for consideration :)

xiao zhu said...

Exactly! Every situation itself can realise equilibrium. The determined factors are the person and where the person stands. The observor outside the elevator may consider the person inside is not aware of his own position. Similarly, the one outside the elevator might also be unaware that there is another observer standing outside his territory.

xiao zhu

Haricot 微豆 said...

Xiao Zhu: I now understand better what you meant. Relativism is something that religious and political philosophers have been debating since the beginning of civilization. The scientists' box-within-a-box theory is relatively (no pun intended) simple. But all that will be a topic for discussion another day. Thanks again for sharing; I quite enjoy this dialogue !!

xiao zhu said...

Me too!

看你的網誌,讓我學了很多。

Haricot 微豆 said...

Xiao Zhu: Ditto, we all learn something new everyday 學無止境!!

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