How we experience awe -- and why it matters | Beau Lotto and Cirque du Soleil

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

Before I get started:

在我開始之前：我真的 很興奮能來這裡，

I'm really excited to be here

to just actually watch what's going to happen, from here.

從這裡看著會發生什麼事。

So with that said, we're going to start with:

說到這裡，

我們一開始要談的是： 我們最大的需求之一是什麼？

What is one of our greatest needs,

one of our greatest needs for our brain?

我們大腦最大的需求之一？

And instead of telling you, I want to show you.

我不想用說的，要用呈現的。

事實上希望你用感受的。

In fact, I want you to feel it.

There's a lot I want you to feel in the next 14 minutes.

接下來的十四分鐘，我有很多 想讓大家感受的東西。

請大家都站起來。

So, if we could all stand up.

We're all going to conduct a piece of Strauss together.

我們要一起指揮 一段史特勞斯的作品。

Alright? And you all know it.

好嗎？你們都知道的作品。

Alright. Are you ready?

好。準備好了嗎？

Audience: Yeah!

觀眾：好了！

Beau Lotto: Alright. Ready, one, two, three!

畢爾‧洛托：好。 準備，一，二，三！

It's just the end.

只有末段。

(Music: Richard Strauss "Also Sprach Zarathustra")

（音樂：理查‧史特勞斯的 《查拉圖斯特拉如是說》）

Right?

行吧？

You know where it's going.

你們都知道接下來的樂段。

(Music)

（音樂）

喔，來了！

Oh, it's coming!

(Music stops abruptly)

（音樂突然停止）

Oh!

喔！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Right?

集體性交中斷法（體外射精）。

Collective coitus interruptus.

好了，各位請坐。

OK, you can all sit down.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

We have a fundamental need for closure.

對於結尾，我們有很根本的需求。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

We love closure.

我們喜愛結尾。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I was told the story that Mozart, just before he'd go to bed,

我聽過一個莫札特的故事， 他上床睡覺之前，

he'd go to the piano and go,

會到鋼琴前，彈： 「答－答－答－答－答。」

"da-da-da-da-da."

His father, who was already in bed, would think, "Argh."

他的父親已經在床上， 就會想：「啊。」

He'd have to get up and hit the final note to the chord

他必須要起床去彈和弦的最後音符，

before he could go back to sleep.

然後他才能回去入睡。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So the need for closure leads us to thinking about:

對結尾的需求，

讓我們去思考：

What is our greatest fear?

我們最大的恐懼是什麼？

Think -- what is our greatest fear growing up, even now?

想想看——我們成長過程， 甚至現在，最大的恐懼是什麼？

And it's the fear of the dark.

是對黑暗的恐懼。

We hate uncertainty.

我們討厭不確定性。

We hate to not know.

我們討厭未知的事。

We hate it.

我們討厭它。想想恐怖片。

Think about horror films.

Horror films are always shot in the dark,

恐怖片拍攝的地點總是在黑暗中、

in the forest,

在森林中、

at night,

在夜晚、

in the depths of the sea,

在深海裡、

the blackness of space.

在太空的黑暗中。

And the reason is because dying was easy during evolution.

因為在演化的過程中 死亡很容易發生。

If you weren't sure that was a predator,

如果你不確定那是獵食者，

it was too late.

就太遲了。

Your brain evolved to predict.

你的大腦演化成會做預測。

And if you couldn't predict, you died.

如果你不會預測，你就死定了。

And the way your brain predicts is by encoding the bias and assumptions

大腦做預測的方式，

是將過去有用的偏見 和假設拿來編碼。

that were useful in the past.

But those assumptions just don't stay inside your brain.

但那些假設不只會在你的腦中。

You project them out into the world.

你還會把它們向外投射到世上。

There is no bird there.

那裡沒有鳥。

You're projecting the meaning onto the screen.

你把意義投射在螢幕上。

Everything I'm saying to you right now is literally meaningless.

我現在對各位說的話 事實上沒有意義。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

You're creating the meaning and projecting it onto me.

你們在創造意義，並投射到我身上。

And what's true for objects is true for other people.

對於物體是這樣， 對於人也是一樣的。

While you can measure their "what" and their "when,"

你雖能測量「什麼」和「何時」， 卻永遠無法衡量人的「為什麼」。

you can never measure their "why."

So we color other people.

所以，我們幫他人上色。

We project a meaning onto them based on our biases and our experience.

根據我們的偏見和經驗 把意義投射到他們身上。

Which is why the best of design is almost always about decreasing uncertainty.

那就是為什麼，最棒的設計 幾乎都和減少不確定性有關。

So when we step into uncertainty,

當我們步入不確定性當中，

our bodies respond physiologically and mentally.

我們的身體會做出身體和心理的反應。

Your immune system will start deteriorating.

你的免疫系統會開始衰退，

Your brain cells wither and even die.

你的腦細胞會枯萎，甚至死亡。

Your creativity and intelligence decrease.

你的創意和智力會下降。

We often go from fear to anger, almost too often.

我們通常會從恐懼 轉變成憤怒，太常如此了。

Why? Because fear is a state of certainty.

為什麼？因為恐懼是一種確定的狀態。

You become morally judgmental.

你變成會在道德上做評斷。

You become an extreme version of yourself.

你會變成極端版的自己。

If you're a conservative, you become more conservative.

如果你是保守派，你會變得更保守。

If you're a liberal, you become more liberal.

如果你是自由派，你會變得更自由。

Because you go to a place of familiarity.

因為你找到了熟悉的地方。

The problem is that the world changes.

問題是，世界會改變。

And we have to adapt or die.

若不適應就要面臨死亡。

And if you want to shift from A to B,

如果你想要從 A 轉換到 B，

the first step is not B.

第一步並不是 B。

The first step is to go from A to not A --

第一步是從 A 到不是 A ——

to let go of your bias and assumptions;

先放掉你的偏見和假設；

to step into the very place that our brain evolved to avoid;

進入那我們大腦演化來避開之處；

to step into the place of the unknown.

進入未知的地方。

But it's so essential that we go to this place

但，很重要的是我們要到

that our brain gave us a solution.

大腦能為我們提供解決問題的地方。

Evolution gave us a solution.

演化為我們提供了解決方案。

And it's possibly one of the most profound perceptual experiences.

那可能是最深奧的感知體驗之一。

And it's the experience of awe.

那就是「驚嘆」的體驗。

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Cheers)

（歡呼）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Beau Lotto: Ah, how wonderful, right?

畢爾洛托：真棒，對吧？

So right now, you're probably all feeling, at some level or another, awe.

現在，

各位可能都感覺到某種程度的驚嘆了。

Right?

對吧？

So what's happening inside your brain right now?

所以，現在各位的腦中發生了什麼事？

And for thousands of years,

數千年來，

we've been thinking and writing and experiencing awe,

我們都一直在思考、 在撰寫、在體驗所謂的驚嘆，

and we know so little about it.

而我們對它所知甚少。

And so to try to understand what is it and what does it do,

為了試圖了解

它是什麼以及它能做什麼，

my Lab of Misfits had just the wonderful opportunity and the pleasure

我的「格格不入實驗室」

有難得的機會和榮幸

to work with who are some of the greatest creators of awe that we know:

和我們所知的最了不起的 讚嘆創造者合作：

the writers, the creators, the directors, the accountants,

作家、創作者、導演、會計，

the people who are Cirque Du Soleil.

太陽馬戲團的人。

And so we went to Las Vegas,

所以，我們去了拉斯維加斯，

and we recorded the brain activity of people

我們記錄了大家

在觀賞表演時的腦部活動，

while they're watching the performance,

over 10 performances of "O,"

十場《O 秀》的表演，

which is iconic Cirque performance.

那是太陽馬戲團 最具代表性的表演。

And we also measured the behavior before the performance,

我們也測量了在表演之前的行為，

as well as a different group after the performance.

以及不同族群在表演之後的行為。

And so we had over 200 people involved.

我們的樣本量超過兩百個人。

So what is awe?

所以，驚嘆是什麼？

What is happening inside your brain right now?

各位的大腦內部現在發生了什麼事？

It's a brain state. OK?

那是一種大腦狀態。好嗎？

The front part of your brain, the prefrontal cortex,

大腦的前部，即前額葉皮質，

which is responsible for your executive function,

負責的是你的執行功能，

your attentional control,

注意力的掌控，

is now being downregulated.

現在它被調降了。

The part of your brain called the DMN, default mode network,

大腦中有一部分叫做 預設模式網絡（DMN），

which is the interaction between multiple areas in your brain,

它是大腦數個區域之間的交互作用，

which is active during, sort of, ideation,

它在構思的過程中變得很活躍，

creative thinking in terms of divergent thinking and daydreaming,

也就是擴散式思考 和作白日夢的創意性思考，

is now being upregulated.

它現在被調高了。

And right about now,

大約現在，

the activity in your prefrontal cortex is changing.

各位大腦前額葉皮質的 活動正在改變。

It's becoming asymmetrical in its activity,

它的活動開始變得不對稱，

biased towards the right,

偏向右腦這邊，

which is highly correlated when people step forward into the world,

當人們步入迎向世界 而非對世界卻步時，

as opposed to step back.

和右腦活動有高度的正相關。

In fact, the activity across the brains of all these people was so correlated

事實上，這些人所有的 大腦活動有如此強的關聯性，

that we're able to train an artificial neural network

使得我們能夠訓練出 一套人工神經網路，

to predict whether or not people are experiencing awe

來預測人們是否有體驗到驚嘆，

to an accuracy of 75 percent on average,

平均的正確率能達到 75%，

with a maximum of 83 percent.

最高能達 83%。

So what does this brain state do?

所以，這種大腦狀態有什麼用途？

Well, others have demonstrated,

已有人證明過，

for instance, Professors Haidt and Keltner,

比如，海德和冠特納教授，

have told us that people feel small but connected to the world.

他們告訴我們，人們會覺得 渺小卻和世界有所連結。

And their prosocial behavior increases,

他們的利社會行為會增加，

because they feel an increased affinity towards others.

因為他們感覺對他人的喜愛變多了。

And we've also shown in this study

在這個研究中也發現

that people have less need for cognitive control.

人們對於認知控制的需求變少了，

They're more comfortable with uncertainty without having closure.

對於沒有結尾的不確定性感到自在些。

And their appetite for risk also increases.

他們對風險的胃口也變大了。

They actually seek risk, and they are better able at taking it.

他們還會去追求風險， 且他們更能承擔風險。

And something that was really quite profound

有個很深刻的發現是，

is that when we asked people,

當我們問別人：

"Are you someone who has a propensity to experience awe?"

「你是個容易感到驚嘆的人嗎？」

They were more likely to give a positive response

比起看表演之前，在看完表演之後

after the performance than they were [before].

他們比較有可能會給正面的回應。

They literally redefined themselves and their history.

他們可說是重新定義了 他們自己以及他們的歷史。

So, awe is possibly the perception that is bigger than us.

所以，驚嘆可能是一種

比我們更大的感知。

And in the words of Joseph Campbell,

借用約瑟夫‧坎伯的話：

"Awe is what enables us to move forward."

「驚嘆是驅使我們前進的動力。」

Or in the words of a dear friend,

或者，我有位親愛的朋友，

probably one of our greatest photographers,

可能是現存的攝影師中最偉大的 其中一位，杜恩‧麥可斯，

still living photographers, Duane Michaels,

he said to me just the other day

有一天他對我說，

that maybe it gives us the curiosity to overcome our cowardice.

也許驚嘆給了我們好奇心， 讓我們能克服怯懦。

So who cares? Why should we care?

誰在乎呢？我們為何要在乎？

Well, consider conflict,

想想衝突，

which seems to be so omnipresent in our society at the moment.

目前，在我們的社會中， 衝突似乎無所不在。

If you and I are in conflict,

如果你和我有衝突，

it's as if we're at the opposite ends of the same line.

就好像我們在一條線的相對兩端。

And my aim is to prove that you're wrong and to shift you towards me.

我的目標是要證明你錯了， 要把你拉向我。

The problem is, you are doing exactly the same.

問題是，你也在做相同的事。

You're trying to prove that I'm wrong and shift me towards you.

你在試圖證明我錯了， 要把我拉向你。

Notice that conflict is the setup to win but not learn.

注意：衝突的目的 是要贏，不是要學習。

Your brain only learns if we move.

只有當我們改變觀念想法時， 大腦才會學習。

Life is movement.

生命恆變。

So, what if we could use awe, not to get rid of conflict --

所以，如果我們能用驚嘆，

目的不是要擺脫衝突——

conflict is essential, conflict is how your brain expands,

衝突是必要的， 衝突會讓大腦擴張，

it's how your brain learns --

是大腦學習的方式——

but rather, to enter conflict in a different way?

但，驚嘆的目的是要用 不同的方式進入衝突，如何？

And what if awe could enable us to enter it

如果驚嘆能讓我們

用至少兩種不同的方式 進入衝突，如何？

in at least two different ways?

One, to give us the humility and courage to not know.

第一，給我們 「不知道」的謙卑和勇氣。

Right? To enter conflict with a question instead of an answer.

對吧？帶著問題進入衝突， 而不是帶著答案。

What would happen then?

那會發生什麼事？

To enter the conflict with uncertainty instead of certainty.

帶著不確定性進入衝突， 而不是確定性。

And the second is, in entering conflict that way,

第二，以那種方式進入衝突之後，

to seek to understand, rather than convince.

去尋求了解，而不是說服。

Because everyone makes sense to themselves, right?

因為每個人都有自己的道理，對吧？

And to understand another person,

去了解另一個人，

is to understand the biases and assumptions

就是去了解造成其行為的偏見和假設。

that give rise to their behavior.

And we've actually initiated a pilot study

我們真的著手進行了一項先導研究，

to look to see whether we could use art-induced awe

看看我們是否能夠用藝術誘發的驚嘆

to facilitate toleration.

來促進包容。

And the results are actually incredibly positive.

結果非常正面。

We can mitigate against anger and hate

我們可以透過體驗由藝術產生的驚嘆，

through the experience of awe generated by art.

來減輕憤怒和仇恨。

So where can we find awe,

既然驚嘆這麼重要，

我們要在哪裡才找得到驚嘆？

given how important it is?

So, what if ...

那，如果……

A suggestion:

一個暗示：

that awe is not just to be found in the grandeur.

並不是只有在壯觀的地方 才能找到驚嘆。

Awe is essential.

驚嘆是很基本的。

Often, it's scale -- the mountains, the sunscape.

通常和規模有關——山岳、太陽景觀。

But what if we could actually rescale ourselves

但，我們是否能夠重新 改變我們自己的規模，

and find the impossible in the simple?

在很簡單的地方找到不可能？

And if this is true,

如果是這樣，

and our data are right,

如果我們的資料正確，

then endeavors like science,

那麼，各種探索嘗試，像是科學、

adventure, art, ideas, love,

冒險、藝術、想法、愛、

a TED conference, performance,

TED 會議、表演，

are not only inspired by awe,

都不僅是由驚嘆所驅使，

but could actually be our ladders into uncertainty

可能還可以成為我們 進入不確定或的途徑，

to help us expand.

協助我們擴張。

Thank you very much.

非常謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Please, come up.

請上來。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Cheers)

（歡呼）

(Applause)

（掌聲）