"Asimov, Isaac - Profession" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asimov Isaac)

The Novian, without taking his eyes from George, called out, УIngenescu, get into view.Ф
The Historian moved to where he could be seen over GeorgeТs shoulder.
The Novian said, УWhat is this? I donТt seem to penetrate.Ф
УI assure you solenmly,Ф said Ingenescu, Уthat whatever this is it is being done on the young manТs own initiative, Honorable. I have not inspired this. I have nothing to do with it.Ф
УWell, then, what is the young man to you? Why do you call me on his behalf?Ф
Ingenescu said, УHe is an object of study, Honorable. He has value to me and I humor him.Ф
УWhat kind of value?Ф
УItТs difficult to explain; a matter of my profession.Ф
The Novian laughed shortly. УWell, to each his profession.Ф He nodded to an invisible person or persons outside plate range. УThereТs a young man here, a protщgщ of Ingenescu or some such thing, who will explain to us how to Educate without tapes.Ф He snapped his fingers, and another glass of pale liqueur appeared in his hand. УWell, young man?Ф
The faces on the plate were multiple now. Men and women, both, crammed in for a view of George, their faces molded into various shades of amusement and curiosity.
George tried to look disdainful. They were all, in their own ways, Novians as well as the Earthman, УstudyingФ him as though he were a bug on a pin. Ingenescu was sitting in a corner, now, watching him owl-eyed.
Fools, he thought tensely, one and all. But they would have to understand. He would make them understand.
He said, УI was at the Metallurgist Olympics this afternoon.Ф
УYou, too?Ф said the Novian blandly. УIt seems all Earth was there.Ф
УNo, Honorable, but I was. I had a friend who competed and who made out very badly because you were using the Beeman machines. His education had included only the Henslers, apparently an older model. You said the modification involved was slight.Ф George held up two fingers close together in conscious mimicry of the otherТs previous gesture. УAnd my friend had known some time in advance that knowledge of the Beeman machines would be required.Ф
УAnd what does that signify?Ф
УIt was my friendТs lifelong ambition to qualify for Novia. He already knew the Henslers. He had to know the Beemans to qualify and he knew that. To learn about the Beemans would have taken just a few more facts, a bit ~more data, a small amount of practice perhaps. With a lifeТs ambition nding the scale, he might have managed thisЧФ
УAnd where would he have obtained a tape for the additional facts and
data? Or has Education become a private matter for home study here on Earth?Ф
There was dutiful laughter from the faces in the background.
George said, УThatТs why he didnТt learn, Honorable. He thought he needed a tape. He wouldnТt even try without one, no matter what the prize. He refused to try without a tape.Ф
УRefused, eh? Probably the type of fellow who would refuse to fly without a skimmer.Ф More laughter and the Novian thawed into a smile and said, УThe fellow is amusing. Go on. IТll give you another few moments.Ф
George said tensely, УDonТt think this is a joke. Tapes are actually bad. They teach too much; theyТre too painless. A man who learns that way doesnТt know how to learn any other way. HeТs frozen into whatever position heТs been taped. Now if a person werenТt given tapes but were forced to learn by hand, so to speak, from the start; why, then heТd get the habit of learning, and continue to learn. IsnТt that reasonable? Once he has the habit well developed he can be given just a small amount of tapeknowledge, perhaps, to fill in gaps or fix details. Then he can make further progress on his own. You can make Beeman Metallurgists out of your own Hensler Metallurgists in that way and not have to come to Earth for new models.Ф
The Novian nodded and sipped at his drink. УAnd where does everyone get knowledge without tapes? From interstellar vacuum?Ф
УFrom books. By studying the instruments themselves. By thinking.Ф
УBooks? How does one understand books without Education?Ф
Books are in words. Words can be understood for the most part. Specialized words can be explained by the technicians you already have.Ф
УWhat about reading? Will you allow reading tapes?Ф
УReading tapes are all right, I suppose, but thereТs no reason you canТt learn to read the old way, too. At least in part.Ф
The Novian said, УSo that you can develop good habits from the start?Ф
УYes, yes,Ф George said gleefully. The man was beginning to understand.
УAnd what about mathematics?Ф
УThatТs the easiest of all, sirЧHonorable. Mathematics is different from other technical subjects. It starts with certain simple principles and proceeds by steps. You can start with nothing and leam. ItТs practically designed for that. Then, once you know the proper types of mathematics, other technical books become quite understandable. Especially if you start with easy ones.Ф
УAre there easy books?Ф
УDefinitely. Even if there werenТt, the technicians you now have can try to write easy books. Some of them might be able to put some of their knowledge into words and symbols.Ф
УGood Lord,Ф said the Novian to the men clustered about him. УThe young devil has an answer for everything.Ф
УI have. I have,Ф shouted George. УAsk me.Ф
УHave you tried learning from books yourself? Or is this just theory with you?Ф
George turned to look quickly at Ingenescu, but the Historian was passive. There was no sign of anything but gentle interest in his face.
George said, УI have.Ф
УAnd do you find it works?Ф
УYes, Honorable,Ф said George eagerly. УTake me with you to Novia. I can set up a program and directЧФ
УWait, I have a few more questions. How long would it take, do you suppose, for you to become a Metallurgist capable of handling a Beeman machine, supposing you started from nothing and did not use Educational tapes?Ф
George hesitated. УWellЧyears, perhaps.Ф
УTwo years? Five? Ten?Ф
УI canТt say, Honorable.Ф
УWell, thereТs a vital question to which you have no answer, have you? Shall we say five years? Does that sound reasonable to you?Ф
УI suppose so.ТТ
УAll right. We have a technician studying metallurgy according to this method of yours for five years. HeТs no good to us during that time, youТll admit, but he must be fed and housed and paid for all that time.Ф
УButЧФ