Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Thomas More's Utopia (1516)

The Concept of Utopia

Utopia explores the idea of a perfect society, a concept that, by definition, cannot be achieved in reality. Moore coined the term "utopia" to describe this ideal.

Social Criticism and the Emerging State

The book applies reason to social criticism and examines the emerging state. The first half of Utopia describes an unjust society grappling with issues like enclosure, monetary policy, and rural emigration (dissolution of feudal mores). These problems, prevalent for generations, reflect the challenges faced by English society at the time.

Zeitgeist and Dystopias

Zeitgeist, or spirit of the time, refers to the dominant assumptions shaping a particular era. In the context of Utopia, it encompasses the... Continue reading "Thomas More's Utopia: A Renaissance Ideal of Society" »

1. Journalism as Modern Cartography

Guiding Citizens Through Society

Journalism acts as a modern form of cartography, creating pathways and bridges that help citizens navigate the complexities of society. It provides a map for understanding current events, issues, and diverse perspectives.

2. The Responsibility of News Providers

A Duty Beyond Personal Opinions

The importance of news comes with a significant responsibility for those who provide it. Journalists have a duty to present information accurately and objectively, going beyond personal opinions or biases.

3. Defining Journalism and the Role of a Journalist

Beyond Simple Questions

Instead of asking "What does a journalist do?", we should delve deeper into the core principles and purpose of journalism.... Continue reading "Understanding Journalism: Roles, Responsibilities, and the Pursuit of Truth" »

Rustow's Definition of Democracy

For Rustow, democracy is fundamentally about the way decisions are made. Considering its genesis, Rustow thinks differently from modernization theorists, arguing that democracy generates democratic education and behavior as a consequence of its institutions and procedures. These provide a certain education and lifestyle to society. Democracy is viewed as a learning process and a problem-solving device. It is not about values or moral standards, but rather a set of rules and instruments for comfortable coexistence. As Rustow states, “Democracy is a matter of procedure and not substance.” This is why we embrace and apply it, not because human beings are born tolerant, egalitarian, or similar. Without a democratic... Continue reading "Rustow's Theory of Democratic Development" »

Core Enlightenment Tenets

The principles discussed were applied to all areas of life. Critics targeted certain aspects of absolutism, specifically the privileges of the nobility and clergy.

Natural Rights

Individual liberty belonged to all human beings.

Tolerance

Tolerance was the basis of coexistence.

Knowledge and Reason

Using reason was considered the key to happiness. Great importance was placed on education and experimental sciences, which were deemed vital for human progress.

Key Thinkers

• Voltaire: Defended a strong monarchy that respected civil liberties.
• Rousseau: Sovereignty resides in the people, allowing a higher authority to govern in their name.
• Montesquieu: Advocated for the separation of powers: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The

1954 Supreme Court Decision

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that separate facilities were "inherently unequal" and therefore unconstitutional.

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Arrest, NAACP Work, and Voting Efforts

On the evening of December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was tired after a long day of work and decided to take a seat on the bus on her ride home. She was an active member of the NAACP: among other roles, she advised the NAACP Youth Council and worked with the Voters' League to prepare Black people to register to vote. Because she sat down and refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, she was arrested for disobeying an Alabama law requiring Black people to relinquish seats to White people when the bus was full. Blacks... Continue reading "Rosa Parks, Montgomery Bus Boycott and Civil Rights Leaders" »

Defining Globalization

Globalization is widely considered the dominant paradigm today. However, the term holds different meanings for different people. Some view it as another word for 'Westernization,' referring to the spread of Western culture worldwide. Others interpret it as internationalization, leading to a homogenization of global culture.

Scholarly Definitions of Globalization

• The spread of transplanetary connections between people.
• A fundamental shift in the nature of social space, encompassing markets, emotions, ideals, music, and more.

Historical Development of Globalization

• The European discovery of America.
• Magellan and Elcano's circumnavigation of the globe.
• The era of European imperialism.

Key Period: 1870-WWI

• Rapid industrialization,

First Industrial Revolution

Industrialization: a revolution in the way work was done — from work performed by hand at home or in a workshop to work done by steam-powered machinery in factories.

Factors of Production

Factors of Production: land, labor, and capital resources — the basic resources that are combined to create useful goods and services.

Laissez-faire and Labor Conditions

Laissez-faire: a free-market approach that eases the process of obtaining resources but can also reduce protections for workers. Effects during the Industrial Revolution included:

• Greater population density in industrial areas — more people, more jobs, more products
• Long working hours with few breaks
• Reliance on unskilled labor and minimal safety regulations

Classical

The teaching of "Media" should be based on the creation of critical social thought. The purpose of education should be to prepare people to participate in society, providing them with tools and resources to develop their own critical social thought. We need to provide the resources to know how to, and to want to, make social decisions, resolve day-to-day problems, and exercise their role consciously, constructively, and responsibly. Citizen awareness and commitment to the world we live in should be encouraged, starting with awareness between science and social problems, and the correlation between the decisions of individuals on the group as a whole.

The Critical Model

• Objectives: Teaching a critical thought approach, thoughtful and committed

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cost-effectiveness analysis ranks policies based on their costs for achieving a defined objective. This analysis is implemented when there is no reasonable consensus on how the relevant costs and benefits can be evaluated. Cost-effectiveness doesn’t evaluate the worthiness of a project based on its benefits relative to costs; instead, it takes some outcome or goal as given and evaluates the efficiency of the various options for achieving it. For example, if policymakers decide to reduce CO2 emissions by 10%, there would be many ways of achieving this goal.

Institutions in Public Policy

Institutions are the laws, organizations, and unwritten rules that make public policy possible. Groups ranging from a handful of homeowners... Continue reading "Public Policy: Cost-Effectiveness, Institutions, and Entities" »

Types of Employers, Introduction to Competencies, Skills Versus Competencies

Some years ago, when executives and managers began to realize that employees' skills were not the only factor determining their success, they started to use competencies. Competencies are a concept taken on board by human resource departments to measure a person's appropriateness for a particular job.

What is a Competency?

In simple terms, a competency is a tool that an individual can use in order to demonstrate a high standard of performance. Most organizations recognize two main groups and then have numerous subgroups into which competencies can be further divided.

Competencies in the Business World

There has been a lot written about competencies. It is easy to see how... Continue reading "Understanding Competencies in the Professional World" »