雙語暢銷書《艾倫圖靈傳》第9章:退隱山林(83)
But in certain phenomena, those of crystallisation for instance, the reverse process could occur.
但是在某些情況下，比如說結晶，這個過程是可逆的，
Pattern could be created, rather than destroyed. The explanation lay in the interplay of more than one level of scientific description.
也就是說，模式可以重新形成。要解釋這個現象，需要多個層面的描述相互配合。
In the chemical description, in which only average concentrations and pressures would be considered, no spatial direction would be preferred to any other.
在化學描述中，只考慮平均的濃度和壓力，不考慮特定的空間方向；
But at a more detailed, Laplacian level, the individual motions of the molecules would not be perfectly symmetrical, and under certain conditions, like that of the crystallising liquid, could serve to pick out a direction in space.
但是在更微觀的層面上，拉普拉斯式的分子運動卻不是勻稱的，而且在某些特定條件下，比如晶化液體，還可以在空間中找到方向。
The example Alan chose as illustration was drawn from his electrical experience:
圖靈憑藉他的電學經驗，舉出了一個例子：
The situation is very similar to that which arises in connexion with electrical oscillators.
這種情況與電子振盪器很相似。
It is usually easy to understand how an oscillator keeps going when once it has started, but on a first acquaintance it is not obvious how the oscillation begins.
我們很容易理解，振盪器在開始之後如何保持振盪，但卻很難搞清楚，它是怎麼開始的。
The explanation is that there are random disturbances always present in the circuit.
其解釋就是，電路中總是會有隨機的干擾，
The ultimate fate of the system will be a state of oscillation at its appropriate frequency, and with an amplitude (and a wave form) which are also determined by the circuit.
這個系統的最終狀態，就是以某個頻率和振幅，進行持續的振盪。頻率和振幅是由電路本身決定的，
The phase of the oscillation alone is determined by the disturbance.
而振盪的相位則是由干擾決定的。
Such a process of toppling, or crystallising, or falling into some pattern of oscillation, could be described as the resolution of an unstable equilibrium.
這樣的結晶或振盪器產生模式的過程，可以用不穩定均衡點來描述。
In the case of the developing sphere of cells, it would have to be shown that in some way, through a change in temperature or the presence of a catalyst, the stable chemical balance could suddenly become unstable.
在細胞球的例子中，一定存在着某種方式，使得溫度或催化劑的一點改變，就能使穩定的化學平衡突然變得不穩定。
