各位,我急用,请各位务必帮忙。鄙人不甚感激。翻译质量无需很高,只要没有大错即可(但也别直接用翻译软件翻译了贴过来,翻译软件我也会)。各位如果嫌多也可翻译一两段,但请注明翻译的是哪一段。
2.5 The demands of gratitude
Third, the kinds of things that might have to be done to fulfill filial duties are very different from the kinds of things that can legitimately be expected in fulfillment of duties of gratitude. Filial duties are ongoing and open-ended, and can be very demanding. Gratitude does not require ongoing commitments or significant sacrifices – though this claim requires some argument.
Everyday gestures of gratitude tend to be isolated acts like sending a card or flowers or taking someone to dinner; they do not involve the grateful person’s doing anything that counts, given her situation, as a significant sacrifice. This is so for good reason. Duties of gratitude arise in response to benevolence, to someone’s doing something to benefit you and not in order to receive something in return. The point of demonstrations of gratitude is to acknowledge acts of benevolence appropriately, not to provide repayment. All of this is undermined if those who do things for others can thereby place open-ended and demanding duties upon those whom they benefit.
Think of this from the point of view of the benefactor. If you act benevolently towards someone, then perhaps you can expect her to acknowledge your benevolence.
You can feel disappointed and perhaps affronted if she shows no appreciation for what you have done. But it is quite another matter to feel that you will only be convinced of her gratitude if she gives up something she values deeply, or is still prepared to do things for you years after the event. That is plainly unreasonable, and throws your initial alleged benevolence into doubt. Acts of benevolence do not place, and should not be expected to place, significant burdens upon their intended beneficiaries.