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

The Rise of Economic Liberalism

Economic liberalism imposed a new system to regulate the economy. Based on the principle of laissez-faire, laissez-passer ("let do, let pass"), this system promoted freedom of action in all economic sectors.

Basic Principles of Economic Liberalism:

• Work is the only source of wealth.
• Personal interest serves the interest of the community.
• Economic activity is regulated by the law of supply and demand.
• Governments should not intervene in production and exchange. Private enterprise must function freely with maximum individual initiative.
• Free trade is essential.

The application of economic liberalism was favored by venture capitalists.

The Labor Movement

The disappearance of traditional worker protections, coupled with the... Continue reading "The Rise of Economic Liberalism and the Labor Movement" »

State the Topic

Possible new eruption in Iceland: dangerous proximity of volcanoes.

Provide a Summary of the Text

Eyjafjallajokull After the eruption of Iceland raises the possibility that the nearby volcano Katla, potentially more dangerous, enter eruption, as seems to have happened on previous occasions. This fear is motivated by the possible communication of the volcano through a dam, which modifies the conditions of the magma chamber and may result in an explosion causing enormous economic damage. However, some volcanologists call the calm before the uniqueness of this happening.

Determine the Structure of the Text and Type (Analyzing, Synthesizing, etc.)

Being a newspaper article, it has a very strong structure. Different linguistic and paralinguistic... Continue reading "Possible New Eruption in Iceland: Dangerous Proximity of Volcanoes" »

Formal and Empirical Scientific Knowledge

Formal scientific knowledge is that which occurs in science and mathematics. Here, we consider the formal aspects without reference to its content.

Experimental scientific knowledge is that which occurs in the natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

Historical Development of the Concept of Science

Philosophy once took care of all knowledge, and all knowledge was philosophy. To know was to understand the causes. Philosophers thought that by discovering the essence of a thing, they would know its properties and behaviors. As experience says nothing about these essences, these thinkers were limited to natural observation. From the seventeenth century, the concept of science changed. Galileo... Continue reading "Understanding Formal, Empirical, and Applied Sciences" »

Spanish Language Around the World

Spanish as an Official Language

Spanish is spoken on four continents:

• Europe: Spain
• Asia: Philippines and Israel
• Africa: Equatorial Guinea
• America: Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Ecuador, Chile, etc.

Varieties of Spanish

Along with the most common variety (American Spanish), there are other notable varieties:

• The Sephardic or Ladino, which is an archaic form spoken by a decreasing number of people in areas like Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, etc.
• The Spanish of the Philippines is the language of an educated minority, and the dialect used in the area is Chabacano.
• The Spanish of Puerto Rico, which coexists with English.
• The Spanish of Paraguay, which coexists with the dominant Guaraní.

In addition, peculiar situations are occurring... Continue reading "Spanish Language Global Presence and Future" »

A. Behaviorist Theory

The behaviorist theory, proposed by B.F. Skinner in 1957, explains the acquisition of language from the standpoint of operant conditioning.

• Classical conditioning is the association between a stimulus that reinforces certain behavior. Operant conditioning is the same response that serves as reinforcement.
• Skinner and his followers believed that the link between words and their meanings is a bond of association established through simultaneous perceptions and the repetition of certain sounds and objects.
• This reductionist interpretation of language and the process by which it is acquired fails to explain only some secondary and minor aspects. It does not clarify essential features such as the acquisition of grammatical structures

Corporate Philosophy and Values

The philosophy of an organization generates a priority scale of values, setting the criteria for internal behavior. It's the "being" of a company, the shared vision shaping its corporate culture. This culture manifests in actions addressing environmental issues, opportunities, and management changes. Core business values provide direction, guiding daily operations and fostering a sense of identity and belonging. They promote ethical behavior—professionally, personally, and socially—and a capacity to achieve common goals. Ethical professional conduct converges business and labor interests. When professionals act ethically and responsibly, aiming for effectiveness and productivity, it's reasonable they receive... Continue reading "Corporate Philosophy, Values, and Strategy for Business Success" »

Franco's Rejection of Democracy and the Rise of Organic Democracy

Franco rejected the democratic system, based on popular will, suffrage, and the separation of powers. For the construction of the new state, he was inspired by the Italian corporatist state, which organized popular participation from three basic units: the family, the town, and the union. These represented the natural elements of society, according to the regime, unlike political parties, which are the instrument of citizen participation in democratic systems.

The System of Organic Democracy

The system was named organic democracy, a name with which the regime wanted to give a certain legitimacy, but it clearly differentiated itself from representative democracy. Popular representation... Continue reading "Franco's Regime: Organic Democracy in Spain" »

Purpose and Objectives of Management

The purpose of management is to improve an organization's productive contributions. It is responsible from an ethical, social, and strategic standpoint. An administrative objective is a goal that requires a defined action. Orientation suggests extra effort for a leader.

Purpose of Administration

Achieving common goals through planning, organizing, directing, and controlling activities, and using resources to satisfy the needs of a society.

Importance of Administration

• Basics: Universality, simplification of work, productivity and efficiency, common good.
• It gives effect to human efforts.
• It helps to get the best staff, equipment, materials, money, and human relationships.
• It provides foresight and creativity.
• Continuous

Key Features of Colloquial Language

Suprasegmental Elements

Intonation, accents, tone, and rhythm are critical elements in conveying meaning.

Word Order Flexibility

Speakers often rearrange words to emphasize items of interest, leading to a more logical flow.

Statement Complexity

Colloquial language often involves elaborations, anacolutha (shifts in grammatical construction), mixed styles, and syntactic displacement. For example, "The keys, where did I put them?"

Contextual References (Deixis)

Frequent use of deictic elements like "I," "you," and "now" that rely on the shared context for interpretation.

Discourse Markers

Increased use of discourse markers such as "then," "well," "okay," and "man" to structure conversation.

Relaxed Enunciation

Characterized... Continue reading "Understanding Spoken Language: Key Features and Oral Genres" »