Read the following two passages and choose the most appropriate word or phrase for each item (1～14). Mark your choices (a～d) on the separate answer sheet.
(A) The epistemological implications of quantum entanglement have ( 1 ) longstanding assumptions about the nature of reality and consciousness. When two particles become entangled, their quantum states remain inexorably linked regardless of the distance between them, a phenomenon that Einstein famously ( 2 ) as “spooky action at a distance.” This seemingly paradoxical behavior has led some theorists to ( 3 ) whether consciousness itself might operate through quantum mechanisms, potentially explaining phenomena that have historically defied conventional scientific explanation.
Recent experiments in quantum biology have revealed that certain biological processes may indeed ( 4 ) quantum effects. For instance, photosynthesis appears to exploit quantum coherence to achieve its remarkable efficiency, while some researchers suggest that microtubules within neurons might sustain quantum states capable of influencing consciousness. However, these hypotheses remain highly contentious, with critics arguing that the warm, wet environment of the brain would cause quantum effects to ( 5 ) too rapidly to be functionally significant.
The philosophical implications of quantum consciousness theories extend beyond mere scientific curiosity. If consciousness does indeed ( 6 ) quantum processes, it would fundamentally alter our understanding of free will, determinism, and the very nature of human cognition. Moreover, such findings would necessitate a radical reconceptualization of how we ( 7 ) the relationship between mind and matter, potentially bridging the seemingly insurmountable gap between subjective experience and objective reality.
Critics argue that proponents of quantum consciousness theories often conflate correlation with causation, and that the apparent similarities between quantum phenomena and consciousness may be merely metaphorical rather than mechanistic. Nevertheless, the persistence of certain paradoxes in both quantum mechanics and consciousness studies suggests that conventional materialist frameworks might be insufficient to fully explain either phenomenon.
(A)
1.
(a) circumvented (b) corroborated (c) disseminated (d) undermined
2.
(a) denominated (b) deprecated (c) disparaged (d) derided
3.
(a) contemplate (b) postulate (c) reciprocate (d) vindicate
4.
(a) circumscribe (b) expedite (c) leverage (d) sublimate
5.
(a) coalesce (b) decohere (c) propagate (d) sublimate
6.
(a) encompass (b) entail (c) manifest (d) transcend
7.
(a) conceptualize (b) hypothesize (c) rationalize (d) synthesize
(B) The anthropological study of Indigenous knowledge systems has undergone a paradigmatic ( 8 ) in recent decades, moving beyond the mere documentation of traditional practices to recognize their epistemological sophistication. What Western science once ( 9 ) as primitive beliefs increasingly reveals itself as a complex understanding of ecological relationships that often ( 10 ) contemporary scientific discoveries.
Traditional ecological knowledge, for instance, has frequently ( 11 ) modern scientific findings about climate change impacts, sometimes by centuries. Indigenous communities’ systematic observations of subtle environmental changes have proven remarkably ( 12 ) with data gathered through sophisticated scientific instrumentation. This convergence suggests that different ways of knowing might complement each other in addressing contemporary environmental challenges, provided we can transcend the lingering vestiges of epistemological hierarchies.
The methodological rigor of Indigenous knowledge systems, though distinct from Western scientific methods, demonstrates a profound understanding of complex ecological processes. These systems often ( 13 ) intricate networks of relationships between species, climate patterns, and geological processes that Western science is only beginning to fully comprehend. The challenge lies not in validating Indigenous knowledge through Western scientific frameworks, but in ( 14 ) how different epistemological approaches might illuminate complementary aspects of environmental reality.
This recognition has profound implications for addressing global environmental challenges. By acknowledging the validity of multiple knowledge systems, we might develop more nuanced and effective approaches to environmental stewardship. However, this requires a fundamental shift in how knowledge itself is conceptualized and validated within academic and scientific institutions.
(B)
8.
(a) metamorphosis (b) permutation (c) transformation (d) transmutation
9.
(a) construed (b) discerned (c) dismissed (d) distilled
10.
(a) anticipate (b) correlate (c) facilitate (d) precipitate
11.
(a) antedated (b) authenticated (c) extrapolated (d) substantiated
12.
(a) analogous (b) congruent (c) resonant (d) synchronous
13.
(a) amalgamate (b) delineate (c) illuminate (d) interpolate
14.
(a) ascertaining (b) establishing (c) extrapolating (d) investigating
【朗読用音声】A
The epistemological implications of quantum entanglement have (undermined) longstanding assumptions about the nature of reality and consciousness. When two particles become entangled, their quantum states remain inexorably linked regardless of the distance between them, a phenomenon that Einstein famously (derided) as “spooky action at a distance.” This seemingly paradoxical behavior has led some theorists to (postulate) whether consciousness itself might operate through quantum mechanisms, potentially explaining phenomena that have historically defied conventional scientific explanation.
Recent experiments in quantum biology have revealed that certain biological processes may indeed (leverage) quantum effects. For instance, photosynthesis appears to exploit quantum coherence to achieve its remarkable efficiency, while some researchers suggest that microtubules within neurons might sustain quantum states capable of influencing consciousness. However, these hypotheses remain highly contentious, with critics arguing that the warm, wet environment of the brain would cause quantum effects to (decohere) too rapidly to be functionally significant.
The philosophical implications of quantum consciousness theories extend beyond mere scientific curiosity. If consciousness does indeed (manifest) quantum processes, it would fundamentally alter our understanding of free will, determinism, and the very nature of human cognition. Moreover, such findings would necessitate a radical reconceptualization of how we (conceptualize) the relationship between mind and matter, potentially bridging the seemingly insurmountable gap between subjective experience and objective reality.
【朗読用音声】B
The anthropological study of Indigenous knowledge systems has undergone a paradigmatic (transformation) in recent decades, moving beyond the mere documentation of traditional practices to recognize their epistemological sophistication. What Western science once (dismissed) as primitive beliefs increasingly reveals itself as a complex understanding of ecological relationships that often (anticipate) contemporary scientific discoveries.
Traditional ecological knowledge, for instance, has frequently (antedated) modern scientific findings about climate change impacts, sometimes by centuries. Indigenous communities’ systematic observations of subtle environmental changes have proven remarkably (congruent) with data gathered through sophisticated scientific instrumentation. This convergence suggests that different ways of knowing might complement each other in addressing contemporary environmental challenges, provided we can transcend the lingering vestiges of epistemological hierarchies.
The methodological rigor of Indigenous knowledge systems, though distinct from Western scientific methods, demonstrates a profound understanding of complex ecological processes. These systems often (delineate) intricate networks of relationships between species, climate patterns, and geological processes that Western science is only beginning to fully comprehend. The challenge lies not in validating Indigenous knowledge through Western scientific frameworks, but in (ascertaining) how different epistemological approaches might illuminate complementary aspects of environmental reality.
【解答・解説】
(A) 量子もつれと意識に関する文章
1. (d) undermined
「覆す、損なう」という意味。量子もつれが従来の常識を覆したという文脈に最適。
– circumvented（回避した）
– corroborated（裏付けた）
– disseminated（広めた）
2. (d) derided
「嘲笑した、軽蔑した」の意。アインシュタインが”spooky action”と呼んで批判的に言及したという歴史的文脈に合致。
– denominated（命名した）は中立的すぎる
– deprecated（非推奨とした）は弱すぎる
– disparaged（けなした）は文脈的に不十分
3. (b) postulate
「仮説を立てる」の意。理論家たちが量子意識の可能性を提示するという文脈に適合。
4. (c) leverage
「活用する」の意。生物学的プロセスが量子効果を利用するという文脈に合致。
5. (b) decohere
量子力学の専門用語で「量子的重ね合わせが崩壊する」の意。専門的文脈に最適。
6. (c) manifest
「現れる、明示する」の意。意識が量子プロセスを通じて現れるという仮説の文脈に合致。
7. (a) conceptualize
「概念化する」の意。心と物質の関係を理論的に捉え直すという文脈に最適。
(B) 先住民の知識体系に関する文章
8. (c) transformation
最も自然な「変容、変革」の意。他の選択肢は過度に技術的または詩的。
9. (c) dismissed
「退けた、無視した」の意。西洋科学が伝統的知識を軽視したという文脈に適合。
10. (a) anticipate
「先取りする」の意。伝統的知識が現代の科学的発見を予期していたという文脈に合致。
11. (a) antedated
「（時期が）先行した」の意。先住民の知識が現代の科学的発見より先に存在したことを示す。
12. (b) congruent
「一致する」の意。先住民の観察と科学的データの一致を示す文脈に最適。
13. (b) delineate
「詳細に描写する」の意。複雑な生態学的関係を詳述するという文脈に合致。
14. (a) ascertaining
「確認する、明らかにする」の意。異なる認識論的アプローチの可能性を探るという文脈に最適。
日本語訳 (A)
量子もつれの認識論的な意味は、現実と意識の本質に関する長年の仮説を覆してきました。2つの粒子がもつれると、それらの量子状態は距離に関係なく不可避的に結びついたままとなります。これはアインシュタインが有名に「不気味な遠隔作用」と揶揄した現象です。このような一見矛盾する振る舞いは、意識自体が量子メカニズムを通じて機能している可能性があるという仮説を理論家たちに立てさせることとなり、従来の科学的説明では解明できなかった現象の説明となる可能性があります。
量子生物学における最近の実験により、特定の生物学的プロセスが実際に量子効果を活用している可能性が明らかになりました。例えば、光合成は量子コヒーレンスを利用して驚くべき効率を達成しているように見え、また一部の研究者は、ニューロン内の微小管が意識に影響を与える可能性のある量子状態を維持できると示唆しています。しかし、これらの仮説は依然として議論の的となっており、批判者たちは脳の温かく湿った環境では量子効果が機能的に意味を持つには早すぎる崩壊を起こすと主張しています。
量子意識理論の哲学的意味は、単なる科学的好奇心を超えて広がっています。もし意識が実際に量子プロセスを示すのであれば、自由意志、決定論、そして人間の認知の本質に関する我々の理解を根本的に変えることになるでしょう。さらに、そのような発見があれば、心と物質の関係についての我々の概念化の仕方を根本的に再考する必要が生じ、主観的経験と客観的現実の間の一見して超えられない溝を潜在的に架橋することになるかもしれません。
先住民の知識体系に関する人類学的研究は、近年、パラダイム的な変容を遂げ、伝統的実践の単なる記録を超えて、その認識論的な洗練さを認識するようになってきました。西洋科学がかつては原始的な信念として退けていたものが、現代の科学的発見を先取りすることの多い、生態学的関係についての複雑な理解として、次第にその本質を現してきています。
例えば、伝統的な生態学的知識は、気候変動の影響に関する現代の科学的発見に、時として何世紀も先行していることがしばしばあります。先住民コミュニティによる微細な環境変化の体系的な観察は、精密な科学機器によって収集されたデータと驚くほど一致することが証明されています。この収束は、認識論的階層の残滓を超越できれば、異なる知識の方法が現代の環境課題に対処する際に互いを補完し合う可能性があることを示唆しています。
西洋科学の方法とは異なるものの、先住民の知識体系の方法論的厳密さは、複雑な生態学的プロセスについての深い理解を示しています。これらのシステムは、種、気候パターン、地質学的プロセスの間の複雑な関係のネットワークを詳細に描写することが多く、西洋科学はようやくそれらを完全に理解し始めたところです。課題は、西洋科学の枠組みを通じて先住民の知識を検証することではなく、異なる認識論的アプローチが環境の現実の補完的な側面をどのように照らし出すことができるかを確認することにあります。
