大学思辨英语教程 精读3U7教师用书.pdf

Unit7CyberspaceandHumanRelations

UnitOverview

Cyberspacehasbeencalledthelargestunregulatedanduncontrolleddomaininthe

historyofmankind,andisalsouniquebecauseitisadomaincreatedbypeoplevice

thetraditionalphysicaldomains.Amongstindividualsoncyberspace,thereis

believedtobeacodeofsharedrulesandethicsmutuallybeneficialforalltofollow,

referredtoascyberethics.Manyviewtherighttoprivacyasmostimportanttoa

functionalcodeofcyberethics.

Thenewmediabecameanextensionofthetraditionalmediaonthecyberspace,

allowingtothepublicaccessinformationinawiderangeofdigitaldevices.Inother

words,itisaculturalvirtualizationofhumanrealityasaresultofthemigrationfrom

physicaltovirtualspace,ruledbycodes,signsandparticularsocialrelationships.

Newtechnologiesalsohelpto“connect”peoplefromdifferentculturesoutsidethe

virtualspace,whatwasunthinkablefiftyyearsago.Inthisgiantrelationshipsweb,we

mutuallyabsorbeachother’sbeliefs,customs,values,lawsandhabits,andcultural

legacies.Thecorecharacteristicofcyberspaceisthatitoffersanenvironmentthat

consistsofmanyparticipantswiththeabilitytoaffectandinfluenceeachother.

Therefore,cyberspaceisincreasinglyaffecting/changinghumanrelationshipsin

reality.

TextA

In“HidingBehindtheScreen”,BritishphilosopherRogerScrutonexploresthe

impactofthecyberspaceonindividualsinmakingfriends,maintainingrelationships

andengaginginvarioussocialactivities.Heexaminestheprosandconsofthe

cyberspacefromtheperspectivesofcontrol,freed