Jared Diamond: How societies can grow old better

譯者: Bert Chen 審譯者: Jen-Huei Wu

To give me an idea of how many of you here

請大家表示意見 現場有多少人

may find what I'm about to tell you

可能發現我要演講的主題

of practical value,

就是「實用價值」

let me ask you please to raise your hands:

我想請問各位一個問題 有符合描述的人請舉手

Who here is either over 65 years old

在場有誰超過65歲

or hopes to live past age 65

誰希望活超過65歲

or has parents or grandparents who did live

有父母或祖父母生前

or have lived past 65,

或現在超過65歲的人

raise your hands please. (Laughter)

請舉手(笑聲)

Okay. You are the people to whom my talk

好 你們就是那些

will be of practical value. (Laughter)

會覺得我的演講很實用的人(笑聲)

The rest of you

其餘的人

won't find my talk personally relevant,

可能會覺得我的演講與自己沒有關係

but I think that you will still find the subject

但是我認為你們 還是會覺得這次主題

fascinating.

很吸引人

I'm going to talk about growing older

我今天的演講主題是

in traditional societies.

在傳統社會裡年紀增長的議題

This subject constitutes just one chapter

這個主題只是我新書當中的其中一個章節

of my latest book, which compares

我的新書是將

traditional, small, tribal societies

傳統社會、小型社會、部落社會

with our large, modern societies,

與我們大型的現代社會比較

with respect to many topics

還有許多主題

such as bringing up children,

像是撫養小孩

growing older, health, dealing with danger,

人口高齡化、健康問題、危機處理

settling disputes, religion

解決紛爭、宗教議題

and speaking more than one language.

還有語言多樣性等主題

Those tribal societies, which constituted

在人類歷史上可以常看到這種部落社會

all human societies for most of human history,

在人類歷史上可以常看到這種部落社會

are far more diverse than are our modern,

這種社會比我們近期的大型現代社會

recent, big societies.

更加多元化

All big societies that have governments,

所有大型社會都有政府組織

and where most people are strangers to each other,

在這種社會裡 多數民眾對彼此都很生疏

are inevitably similar to each other

每種大型社會都很類似

and different from tribal societies.

但是又與部落社會不同

Tribes constitute thousands of natural experiments

部落社會是經由大自然千錘百鍊的試驗

in how to run a human society.

得出人類社會最佳的運作方式

They constitute experiments from which we ourselves

他們所建構出的這些實驗

may be able to learn.

也許我們能從這些實驗學到一些東西

Tribal societies shouldn't be scorned

我們不應該嘲笑部落社會

as primitive and miserable,

是一種很落後、原始的社會

but also they shouldn't be romanticized

但也不能將其美化成

as happy and peaceful.

是一個快樂安寧的社會

When we learn of tribal practices,

我們聽說某些部落習俗的時候

some of them will horrify us,

有些習俗可能會嚇到我們

but there are other tribal practices which,

但是其他的部落習俗

when we hear about them,

我們聽到的時候

we may admire and envy

我們可能會很羨慕

and wonder whether we could adopt those practices

然後遲疑我們自己

ourselves.

是否也能採納那些方法

Most old people in the U.S. end up living

在美國多數的老人在臨走前

separately from their children

都沒有和他們的小孩住在一起

and from most of their friends

沒有與多數早年的朋友

of their earlier years,

保持聯繫

and often they live in separate retirements homes for the elderly,

通常他們都住在養老院

whereas in traditional societies,

養老院是屬於傳統社會

older people instead live out their lives

年紀較長的長輩反而是

among their children, their other relatives,

與他們的小孩住在一起 和其他親戚常有交流

and their lifelong friends.

常終身好友互動往來

Nevertheless, the treatment of the elderly

不過對待老年人的方式

varies enormously among traditional societies,

在各種傳統社會型態上 有著很大的差異

from much worse to much better

相較於我們現代社會 對待老年人的情況

than in our modern societies.

狀況是從「極差」到「極佳」都有

At the worst extreme, many traditional societies

最糟糕的情況就是 許多傳統社會

get rid of their elderly

棄養老年人逐年增長的

in one of four increasingly direct ways:

四大直接了當的方式包括:

by neglecting their elderly

對老年人漠不關心

and not feeding or cleaning them until they die,

不餵他們吃飯 到他們死前也不幫他們洗澡

or by abandoning them when the group moves,

拋棄他們

or by encouraging older people to commit suicide,

勸老年人自己了結生命

or by killing older people.

殺害老年人

In which tribal societies do children

部落社會裡的小孩

abandon or kill their parents?

真的會棄養或殺害他們的雙親嗎?

It happens mainly under two conditions.

會發生此等情事 主要有兩種情況

One is in nomadic, hunter-gather societies

其中一個就是游牧的狩獵採集社會

that often shift camp

這種社會常常遷徙

and that are physically incapable

實際上沒有餘力

of transporting old people who can't walk

帶上不便行走的老年人

when the able-bodied younger people already

當身強體健的年輕人準備

have to carry their young children

要帶上他們的小孩

and all their physical possessions.

和他們所有財產移動的時候

The other condition is in societies

另外一種情況就是

living in marginal or fluctuating environments,

生活在邊緣的社會 或經常變動的環境之下

such as the Arctic or deserts,

像是北極地區、沙漠地帶

where there are periodic food shortages,

都常出現週期性食物短缺的狀態

and occasionally there just isn't enough food

偶爾也會發生糧食不足的情況

to keep everyone alive.

無法養活每一個人

Whatever food is available has to be reserved

不管食物是否足夠都必須

for able-bodied adults and for children.

留給健康的成年人和小孩食用

To us Americans, it sounds horrible

對我們美國人來說

to think of abandoning or killing

要棄養或殺害

your own sick wife or husband

自己患有重病的老婆、丈夫

or elderly mother or father,

或年邁的父母 這種事情聽起來很恐怖

but what could those traditional societies

但是那些傳統社會

do differently?

能有什麼不一樣的做法嗎?

They face a cruel situation of no choice.

他們面臨一種很殘酷的情況 毫無選擇餘地

Their old people had to do it to their own parents,

他們的老年人也得 以同樣的方式對待他們自己的父母

and the old people know

老年人知道

what now is going to happen to them.

接下來會降臨在他們身上的事情

At the opposite extreme

另外一種對待老年人的作法上

in treatment of the elderly, the happy extreme,

是一個極端狀態就是「非常好」

are the New Guinea farming societies

新幾內亞的農業社會對老年人非常好

where I've been doing my fieldwork for the past 50 years,

我在當地研究超過50年

and most other sedentary traditional societies

也研究大多數

around the world.

世界上固有的傳統社會

In those societies, older people are cared for.

在那些社會中 老年人都有得到妥善照顧

They are fed. They remain valuable.

都有人會餵飯給他們吃 他們還是有生存的價值

And they continue to live in the same hut

也都還是住在同一間房子

or else in a nearby hut near their children,

或是住在小孩

relatives and lifelong friends.

親戚或終身好友的附近

There are two main sets of reasons for this variation

這種變化有兩組主要原因

among societies in their treatment

在各社會型態

of old people.

對其他老年人的方式

The variation depends especially

這種變化特別是取決於

on the usefulness of old people

老年人是否還有利用價值

and on the society's values.

還有該社會的價值

First, as regards usefulness,

首先 關於利用價值

older people continue to perform useful services.

老年人持續做出有用的貢獻

One use of older people in traditional societies

傳統社會中 老年人的其中一個作用

is that they often are still effective

就是通常他們仍然

at producing food.

對生產食物有一定的影響力

Another traditional usefulness of older people

另一個老年人傳統上的利用價值

is that they are capable of babysitting

就是他們能夠

their grandchildren,

照顧他們的孫子女

thereby freeing up their own adult children,

讓他們長大成人的兒女

the parents of those grandchildren,

也就是他們孫子女的父母

to go hunting and gathering food for the grandchildren.

能放心去打獵 或採集食物給小孩吃

Still another traditional value of older people

老年人還有另一個傳統價值

is in making tools, weapons, baskets,

就是製造工具、武器、竹籃

pots and textiles.

鍋、壺、紡織品等

In fact, they're usually the people who are best at it.

實際上他們通常都是 最會做這些東西的人

Older people usually are the leaders

老年人通常都扮演著

of traditional societies,

傳統社會的領導者

and the people most knowledgeable about politics,

他們也對政治、醫學、宗教、歌謠與舞蹈

medicine, religion, songs and dances.

非常博學多聞

Finally, older people in traditional societies

最後 傳統社會的老年人

have a huge significance that would never occur

具有一種重要性

to us in our modern, literate societies,

那種重要性在現代文明社會 我們絕對想像不到

where our sources of information are books

在文明社會裡 我們資訊的來源都是依靠書籍

and the Internet.

與網際網路

In contrast, in traditional societies without writing,

相較之下 在沒有以文字傳遞訊息的傳統社會裡

older people are the repositories of information.

老年人就是一座資訊寶庫

It's their knowledge that spells the difference

靠著他們的知識拼湊出

between survival and death for their whole society

整個社會對於生死之間觀念的差異

in a time of crisis caused by rare events

在一段時間由少數事件所導致的危機

for which only the oldest people alive

只有現在活著的老年人

have had experience.

已經經歷過的

Those, then, are the ways in which older people

那些生活方式都使

are useful in traditional societies.

傳統社會的年長者存有利用價值

Their usefulness varies and contributes

他們還能做很多事

to variation in the society's treatment

也能改善社會

of the elderly.

對待老年人的方式

The other set of reasons for variation

另一項會造成對待老年人的方式

in the treatment of the elderly is

有所差異的原因就是

the society's cultural values.

該社會的文化價值

For example, there's particular emphasis

例如 有個特別的重點

on respect for the elderly in East Asia,

在東亞的老年人的觀念裡

associated with Confucius' doctrine

與儒家思想中的

of filial piety, which means obedience,

孝道有關 盡孝道的意思是指要服從尊長

respect and support for elderly parents.

尊敬長者 扶持長輩

Cultural values that emphasize respect for older people

強調尊重長輩的文化價值

contrast with the low status of the elderly

與不太重視老年人的美國文化

in the U.S.

形成對比

Older Americans are at a big disadvantage

美國的老年人有著很大的劣勢

in job applications.

在應徵工作的時候

They're at a big disadvantage in hospitals.

醫院也對他們不太友善

Our hospitals have an explicit policy

我們的醫院有一項明確的政策

called age-based allocation of healthcare resources.

叫做「依照年齡分配醫療資源方案」

That sinister expression means that

講不好聽一點就是

if hospital resources are limited,

如果醫療資源有限

for example if only one donor heart

例如 如果只有一顆捐贈的心臟

becomes available for transplant,

能夠進行移植

or if a surgeon has time to operate

或者如果一位外科醫生 在僅限的時間之內

on only a certain number of patients,

只能為一定數量的病人動手術

American hospitals have an explicit policy

美國的醫院有一項明確的政策

of giving preference to younger patients

讓較年輕的病患先進行手術

over older patients

較年長的病患則慢一點

on the grounds that younger patients are considered

因為他們認為年輕的病患

more valuable to society

對社會來說比較有價值

because they have more years of life ahead of them,

因為他們還能活的時間比較長

even though the younger patients have fewer years

雖然年輕病患有的

of valuable life experience behind them.

寶貴的生活經驗不及老年人

There are several reasons for this low status

造成美國人不太尊重老年人的情況

of the elderly in the U.S.

有幾個原因

One is our Protestant work ethic

其中一個原因就是我們的「新教倫理」

which places high value on work,

「新教倫理」非常重視工作

so older people who are no longer working

所以無法工作老年人

aren't respected.

就得不到別人的尊敬

Another reason is our American emphasis

另一個原因就是我們美國人強調

on the virtues of self-reliance and independence,

要有自力更生、獨立自主的美德

so we instinctively look down on older people

所以我們就會以直覺來看待老年人

who are no longer self-reliant and independent.

而老年人通常都需要別人來照顧

Still a third reason is our American cult of youth,

第三個原因就是 我們美國人崇拜「青春能量」

which shows up even in our advertisements.

這種情況就連在我們的 電視廣告裡都可以看見

Ads for Coca-Cola and beer always depict

可口可樂和啤酒的廣告都可以看到

smiling young people,

有年輕人開懷大笑

even though old as well as young people

即使不論老少

buy and drink Coca-Cola and beer.

都會買可口可樂和啤酒來喝

Just think, what's the last time you saw

試想一下 上次你看到

a Coke or beer ad depicting smiling people

可口可樂或是啤酒的廣告

85 years old? Never.

當中有一位85歲的老人在對你微笑 絕對沒有

Instead, the only American ads

反而只有美國的廣告

featuring white-haired old people

當中出現白髮蒼蒼的老人

are ads for retirement homes and pension planning.

這些都是老人院和退休金規畫的廣告

Well, what has changed in the status

是什麼力量改變

of the elderly today

今天老年人的狀態

compared to their status in traditional societies?

相較於他們在傳統社會的狀態?

There have been a few changes for the better

有少數部份變得比較好

and more changes for the worse.

但多數部份變的更差了

Big changes for the better

大幅度的改變帶來更好的生活

include the fact that today we enjoy

包括今天我們能享有

much longer lives,

更長的壽命

much better health in our old age,

我們老的時候比前人更健康

and much better recreational opportunities.

有更好休養生息的機會

Another change for the better is that we now have

另一項好的改變就是 我們現在有

specialized retirement facilities

專門設置的養老設施

and programs to take care of old people.

與照料計畫去照顧老年人

Changes for the worse begin with the cruel reality

不好的改變就是來自於殘酷的現實

that we now have

我們現在的

more old people and fewer young people

老年人更多 但年輕人更少

than at any time in the past.

情況比從前任何時候都還嚴重

That means that all those old people

那就表示因為老年人口較多

are more of a burden on the few young people,

而年輕人口較少 使得年輕人的負擔更重了

and that each old person has less individual value.

也表示每位老年人的個人價值下降了

Another big change for the worse in the status of the elderly

對於老年人的狀態方面 另一項不好的大改變

is the breaking of social ties with age,

就是隨年齡增長而疏離社會聯繫

because older people, their children,

因為年長者、他們的小孩

and their friends,

他們的朋友

all move and scatter independently of each other

每個人都是獨自行動、散居各地

many times during their lives.

在他們的一生中

We Americans move on the average

平均每五年

every five years.

我們美國人就會搬一次家

Hence our older people are likely

因此我們的長者可能

to end up living distant from their children

到死都沒有和他們的小孩

and the friends of their youth.

朋友在一起生活

Yet another change for the worse in the status of the elderly

對於老年人的狀態方面 另一項不好的大改變

is formal retirement from the workforce,

就是正式從職場退休

carrying with it a loss of work friendships

同時表示會失去同事情誼

and a loss of the self-esteem associated with work.

也會失去在工作方面的自我抱負

Perhaps the biggest change for the worse

也許最大最糟糕的改變

is that our elderly are objectively

就是現代我們老年人客觀上

less useful than in traditional societies.

比傳統社會的老年人更沒有幫助

Widespread literacy means that they are no longer

普遍能力顯示他們不再

useful as repositories of knowledge.

像是座知識寶庫般有用

When we want some information,

我們想要找某種資訊的時候

we look it up in a book or we Google it

我們會從書裡面尋找 或上Google查詢

instead of finding some old person to ask.

而不是去問一些老年人

The slow pace of technological change

在傳統社會 科技進步的步伐很慢

in traditional societies

在傳統社會 科技進步的步伐很慢

means that what someone learns there as a child

表示傳統社會裡小時候所學的東西

is still useful when that person is old,

到老都還是有用的

but the rapid pace of technological change today

但是現今科技快速進步

means that what we learn as children

也就表示我們小時候所學的東西

is no longer useful 60 years later.

六十年過後 已經不堪使用

And conversely, we older people are not fluent

相反地我們老年人無法

in the technologies essential for surviving

以科技技術當作生存技能

in modern society.

在現代社會謀生

For example, as a 15-year-old,

例如 我在十五歲的時候

I was considered outstandingly good at multiplying numbers

大家都覺得我在多重完全數方面 運算很厲害

because I had memorized the multiplication tables

因為我有背乘法表

and I know how to use logarithms

而且我知道對數函數的使用方法

and I'm quick at manipulating a slide rule.

用計算尺我可以很快

Today, though, those skills are utterly useless

時至今日 這些技能完全都沒用了

because any idiot

因為任何一個白痴

can now multiply eight-digit numbers

靠著口袋型計算機 現在都可以乘上八位數

accurately and instantly with a pocket calculator.

絕對準確無誤 而且馬上就能知道答案

Conversely, I at age 75

相反地 我現在七十五歲

am incompetent at skills

就連在基本的每日生活技能方面

essential for everyday life.

都無法與他人競爭

My family's first TV set in 1948

1948年 我家第一次裝了電視

had only three knobs that I quickly mastered:

只有三個旋鈕 我很快就搞懂了

an on-off switch, a volume knob,

一個開/關機鈕、一個音量控制鈕

and a channel selector knob.

一個頻道選擇鈕

Today, just to watch a program

今天 只是要看一個電視節目

on the TV set in my own house,

用我自己家裡的電視機收看

I have to operate a 41-button TV remote

我就一定要用一台有41個按鍵的電視遙控器

that utterly defeats me.

真的是考倒我了

I have to telephone my 25-year-old sons

我還要打電話給我25歲的兒子

and ask them to talk me through it

透過電話問他們操作方法

while I try to push those wretched 41 buttons.

當我在試按那41個討厭的按鍵的時候

What can we do to improve the lives of the elderly

我們能做的就是改善美國老年人的生活

in the U.S., and to make better use of their value?

善加利用他們的價值

That's a huge problem.

那真是個大問題

In my remaining four minutes today,

在我今天演講剩下的四分鐘內

I can offer just a few suggestions.

我會提出一些建議

One value of older people is that they are

第一項老年人的價值就是

increasingly useful as grandparents

他們能逐漸展現自己的價值

for offering high-quality childcare

當祖父母能為自己子女 提供優質的育兒照顧的時候

to their grandchildren, if they choose to do it,

讓他們能夠含飴弄孫 如果他們真的想幫忙照顧的話

as more young women enter the workforce

當更多年輕女性進入工作職場

and as fewer young parents of either gender

當越來越少的年輕父母 不論是爸爸或媽媽

stay home as full-time caretakers of their children.

能在家全天候照顧他們的小孩

Compared to the usual alternatives

相較於常見的替代方案

of paid babysitters and day care centers,

就是花錢請保母 或將小孩送到托兒所

grandparents offer superior, motivated,

祖父母則能以優質環境 積極的態度

experienced child care.

以及豐富的經驗來照顧小孩

They've already gained experience from raising their own children.

從養育自己的小孩 他們就已經有過經驗

They usually love their grandchildren,

祖父母通常都很喜歡他們的孫子女

and are eager to spend time with them.

也很希望能夠花時間陪他們

Unlike other caregivers,

不像其他居家照顧服務員

grandparents don't quit their job

祖父母不會辭職

because they found another job with higher pay

只因為找到另一份更高薪的

looking after another baby.

看護工作

A second value of older people is paradoxically

這麼說有點自相矛盾 第二項老年人的價值是

related to their loss of value

與他們失去的自我價值有關

as a result of changing world conditions and technology.

由於世界情勢改變和科技日新月異

At the same time, older people have gained

同時 更準確來說 今天的老年人

in value today precisely because

越來越有價值

of their unique experience of living conditions

因為他們體會過的特殊生活情況

that have now become rare

對於現在來說是很罕見的

because of rapid change, but that could come back.

因為社會快速變遷 但是這種情況還是有可能再次發生

For example, only Americans now in their 70s

例如 現在只有70歲

or older today can remember

或70歲以上的老年人會記得

the experience of living through a great depression,

經濟大蕭條時期的生活經驗

the experience of living through a world war,

世界大戰時期的生活經驗

and agonizing whether or not

那個時代的人們 都生活在痛苦與掙扎之中

dropping atomic bombs would be more horrible

不管投下原子彈會不會

than the likely consequences of not dropping atomic bombs.

比沒有投下原子彈所造成的後果更恐怖

Most of our current voters and politicians

現今我們多數的選民與政治人物

have no personal experience of any of those things,

都沒有上述的那種個人生活經驗

but millions of older Americans do.

但是數百萬計的美國老年人卻有這種經驗

Unfortunately, all of those terrible situations

不幸的是 所有糟糕的生活清況

could come back.

都有可能捲土重來

Even if they don't come back,

即使不會再發生

we have to be able to plan for them

我們必須也要有能力為這些情況作準備

on the basis of the experience of what they were like.

透過長輩過去的生活經驗來當參考

Older people have that experience.

老年人有那種經驗

Younger people don't.

年輕人卻沒有

The remaining value of older people

老年人其餘的價值

that I'll mention involves recognizing that

我會提到像是 我們都知道

while there are many things that older people

有許多事情老年人

can no longer do,

都做不到

there are other things that they can do

而在那些之外的事情上 他們做得

better than younger people.

比年輕人更好

A challenge for society is to make use of those things

我們的社會就是該嘗試利用

that older people are better at doing.

老年人擅長做的事情

Some abilities, of course, decrease with age.

當然 有些能力會隨年紀遞減

Those include abilities at tasks

當中包括各種工作技能

requiring physical strength and stamina,

像是需要體力、耐力

ambition, and the power of novel reasoning

抱負與新穎的推論能力

in a circumscribed situation,

在受到限制的情況之下

such as figuring out the structure of DNA,

像是計算出DNA的結構

best left to scientists under the age of 30.

這種工作最好還是留給30歲以下的科學家

Conversely, valuable attributes

相反地 有些很重要、珍貴的特性

that increase with age include experience,

只會隨著年紀增長而出現 就像是經驗

understanding of people and human relationships,

看人的眼光、人際關係

ability to help other people

幫助其他人的能力

without your own ego getting in the way,

不會受到自尊心的攪亂

and interdisciplinary thinking about large databases,

與跨領域的大範圍思考模式

such as economics and comparative history,

像是經濟學與比較歷史學

best left to scholars over the age of 60.

最好還是留給60歲以上的學者

Hence older people are much better than younger people

因此老年人比年輕成更擅長於

at supervising, administering, advising,

監督、管理、勸告

strategizing, teaching, synthesizing,

謀略、教導、綜合事項

and devising long-term plans.

策劃長期計畫

I've seen this value of older people

我見識過這種老年人的價值

with so many of my friends in their 60s,

在我許多60歲

70s, 80s and 90s,

70、80、90歲左右的朋友身上

who are still active as investment managers,

他們現在都還很活躍 有的是當投資經理人

farmers, lawyers and doctors.

也有農夫、律師和醫生

In short, many traditional societies

簡言之 許多傳統社會

make better use of their elderly

能夠有效利用老年人

and give their elderly more satisfying lives

給予老年人更滿意的生活環境

than we do in modern, big societies.

比我們現代的大社會環境還要好

Paradoxically nowadays,

矛盾的是

when we have more elderly people than ever before,

我們現在的老年人口比以前更多

living healthier lives and with better medical care

生活環境與條件比從前更好

than ever before,

也有更好的醫療照護

old age is in some respects more miserable

但是現在老年人

than ever before.

比以前更不受到尊重

The lives of the elderly are widely recognized

大家普遍認為老年人的生活

as constituting a disaster area

就像在現代美國社會的

of modern American society.

災區裡面

We can surely do better by learning

我們該學學

from the lives of the elderly

老年人在傳統社會裡扮演的角色

in traditional societies.

一定能從中獲益

But what's true of the lives of the elderly

但是適用於傳統社會老年人的生活型態

in traditional societies

但是適用於傳統社會老年人的生活型態

is true of many other features

也適用於其他各式傳統社會

of traditional societies as well.

也適用於其他各式傳統社會

Of course, I'm not advocating that we all give up

當然 我並不主張說 我們全然放棄

agriculture and metal tools

拿著金屬器具下田耕作

and return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

回歸狩獵、採集的生活型態

There are many obvious respects

現在有許多明顯的觀點

in which our lives today are far happier

就是我們現在的生活遠比

than those in small, traditional societies.

小型的傳統社會還要快樂

To mention just a few examples,

就提幾個例子

our lives are longer, materially much richer,

我們的壽命越來越長 物質方面也比較富裕

and less plagued by violence

也較少有暴力事件的發生

than are the lives of people in traditional societies.

比那些生活在傳統社會的人還好

But there are also things to be admired

但是生活在傳統社會的人們

about people in traditional societies,

也有一些令人稱羨的事

and perhaps to be learned from them.

也許我們也能從中學習

Their lives are usually socially much richer

他們的社交生活通常比

than our lives,

我們的還要好

although materially poorer.

雖然他們的物質生活比較不好

Their children are more self-confident,

傳統社會的小孩通常比較有自信

more independent, and more socially skilled

更獨立自主 更具社交技巧

than are our children.

比我們現代的小孩來說

They think more realistically about dangers than we do.

對於危險事物 他們的想法比我們更實際

They almost never die of diabetes, heart disease,

他們幾乎沒有因罹患糖尿病、心臟病

stroke, and the other noncommunicable diseases

中風或是其他非傳染性疾病而死

that will be the causes of death of almost

今天幾乎我們所有人

all of us in this room today.

都會因罹患非傳染性疾病而死亡

Features of the modern lifestyle predispose us to those diseases,

現代生活型態的特性就是 我們很容易感染這些疾病

and features of the traditional lifestyle

但傳統生活型態的特性

protect us against them.

卻可以保護我們免受這些疾病的侵害

Those are just some examples of what we can learn

這幾項例子都是

from traditional societies.

我們能從傳統社會上學到的東西

I hope that you will find it as fascinating

祝您讀到本書中的傳統社會時

to read about traditional societies

展閱愉快 身心獲益

as I found it to live in those societies.

就像我對住在傳統社會的老人一樣 感到驚奇無比

Thank you.

謝謝你

(Applause)

(掌聲)