霍金:若無貢獻會安樂死

Professor Stephen Hawking (L) and his wife Elaine Mason

圖爲史蒂芬•霍金（左）和他的妻子伊萊恩•梅森（Elaine Mason）

Professor Stephen Hawking, the physicist, would consider assisted suicide if he felt he had nothing more to contribute to the world and was merely a burden, he has said.

物理學家史蒂芬•霍金教授曾表示，如果他覺得自己無法再對這個世界做出任何貢獻，而僅僅是別人的負擔，那麼他會考慮協助自殺。

Prof Hawking, who has motor neurone disease, has argued that keeping someone alive against their own wishes is the “ultimate indignity”, saying he would think about it in the event he was suffering great pain.

霍金患有運動神經元病，他認爲如果別人不想活着，卻非逼着別人活着，這是對他人“最大的侮辱”。他曾表示，如果他遭受了巨大的痛苦，那麼他會考慮協助自殺。

In an interview with Dara O'Briain, for a new BBC programme, the world-renowned scientist disclosed he suffered bouts of loneliness, because people can be afraid to talk to him or let him answer.

在接受BBC一個新節目的主持人達拉•奧布萊恩採訪時，這位舉世聞名的科學家透露，人們害怕和他交談或者向他提問，因此他正承受着巨大的孤獨。

In 2013, he offered his public support to the discussion of assisted dying, saying: “We don't let animals suffer, so why humans?"

2013年，他公開支持安樂死，並聲稱：“我們都不忍心讓動物遭受痛苦，那爲什麼要讓人們忍受呢？”

In a programme to be broadcast on BBC One on June 15, Prof Hawking will offer further insights into his own life, alongside interviews with his children.

6月15日BBC1臺將播出對霍金先生及其子女的訪談，霍金將剖析他對自己生命更深沉的感悟。

When asked by O'Briain about his support for assisted dying, and what condition he would have to be in to consider it for himself, the physicist said: "To keep someone alive against their wishes is the ultimate indignity.

當奧布萊恩問道關於他支持安樂死問題以及他在什麼情況下會考慮安樂死時，霍金回答稱：“違背一個人的意願，強迫他活着，是對他人最大的侮辱。”

"I would consider assisted suicide only if I were in great pain or felt I had nothing more to contribute but was just a burden to those around me.”

“只有當我感受到巨大的痛苦，或我發現自己無法再做出任何貢獻，而只是身邊人的負擔時，我纔會考慮協助自殺。”

But, he added: "I am damned if I'm going to die before I have unravelled more of the universe.”

不過，他補充道：“如果我在揭示更多宇宙奧祕之前就死了，我會很懊惱。”

He is not in pain, he said, but suffers occasional discomfort because he cannot adjust his own position.

目前，他還沒有受到病痛的折磨，只是時不時會覺得不舒服，因爲他無法調整自己的姿勢。

O'Briain, a comedian and broadcaster who has a degree in theoretical physics, praised Prof Hawking for his “impressively honest answers, even to the most direct questions”.

奧布萊恩是一名喜劇演員兼播音員，同時還有理論物理學學位。他稱讚霍金的回答非常誠懇，哪怕面對最直接尖銳的問題也給出了回答。

He also asked the 73-year-old physicist, who communicates through his famous speech synthesiser, whether he ever finds life lonely.

他還問這位73歲的物理學家是否感到生活孤獨，霍金只能用他那套著名的語音合成器同他人交流。

“At times I get very lonely because people are afraid to talk to me or don't wait for me to write a response,” said Prof Hawking, who is currently trialling even more sophisticated communication technology.

霍金答道：“有時候我覺得非常孤獨，因爲人們害怕同我講話或者是不願等我把回答寫出來。”他目前正在試驗更爲複雜的通訊技術設備。

“I'm shy and tired at times. I find it difficult to talk to people I don't know."

“我很害羞，有時也感到疲乏。我覺得跟我不認識的人交談是件很困難的事。”

When asked about what he misses about being able-bodied, he added: "I would like to be able to swim again. When my children were young, I missed not being able to play with them physically."

當被問及擁有健全的身體時讓他最懷念的是什麼時，霍金答道：“我希望能再游泳。我的孩子們還很小時，我沒能親身和他們一起玩耍。”