as if they provide,

认定他们好像能提供解答
somehow, answers, ready-made answers to the problems of today.

针对当今问题的现成答案
Only we can provide answers to our problems.

只有我们才能对此给出答案
Rather, the great works provide us,

而不是靠巨作提供的答案
so to speak,

这么说吧
with a repository of fundamental or permanent questions

大量基本而永恒的问题
that political scientists still continue to rely on in their work.

同时也是政治科学家在他们的作品中所倚赖的
The great thinkers are great

伟大的思想家之所以伟大
not because they've created some set of museum pieces

并非因为他们创造了一些
that can be catalogued, admired,

可被归类或赞赏的博物馆馆藏
and then safely ignored

然后被轻轻忽略
like a kind of antiquities gallery in the Metropolitan Museum of Art;

就像是大都会艺术博物馆的古物画廊