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

José Ortega y Gasset: A 20th-Century Perspective

Context:

José Ortega y Gasset stands as a prominent philosopher and intellectual of the 20th century. His Spanish origins perhaps hindered his wider recognition in recent history. It's noteworthy that he often left his books unfinished. A philosopher in the traditional sense, Ortega rejected the confinement of philosophy to academic circles, seeking to elevate the cultural level of his nation. Understanding his thought requires navigating a diverse body of work, including articles, lectures, and essays. His journalistic endeavors, a significant aspect of his originality, offer insights into his political thinking and commitment to Spain's socio-political reality.

Ortega's Perspectivism and the

Latin American Economic Evolution

Phase 1: Industrial Revolution's Impact

• The Industrial Revolution led to changes in Latin American economies.
• Industrialization caused a strong demand for food and raw materials.
• Economic growth in the 20th century, driven by export-import activities, brought about social transformations, including:
  • Modernization of the upper class
  • Emergence of new professions and services
  • Political changes, diminishing the role of strongmen, with the elite becoming more interested in national politics.
• Political authority was sought in two forms: elite landowners and governments taking direct control of reform.

Phase 2: Expansion of Growth

• Increased exports improved the economy.
• European migration met labor demands.
• Cities grew due to

The Rise of Mass Society in the 20th Century

The first half of the 20th century saw the consolidation of mass society, characterized by these main features:

• Increased public participation in politics through mass media and the generalization of universal suffrage.
• The emergence of mass parties seeking votes from large social groups, unlike the smaller elites targeted by traditional parties.
• Rising living standards leading to the development of a consumer society and new concepts of leisure.

The Emancipation of Women

One of the most significant social changes was the beginning of women's emancipation. In the second half of the 19th century, the suffragist movement emerged, aiming to secure women's right to political participation, improve education... Continue reading "Mass Society, Women's Emancipation, and Media in the 20th Century" »

Andrés Manjón: A Visionary Educator

ANDRÉS MANJÓN

Biography

Born in Burgos on November 30, 1846, Andrés Manjón was educated by his uncle. His mother persuaded him to attend school and receive a basic education. He later moved to the University of Granada, where he lived the rest of his days. There, he founded the first Ave Maria School and began his revolutionary approach to teaching methods. Throughout his life, he opened about 400 Ave Maria Schools.

Historical Context

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, four key developments shaped pedagogy in Europe:

• The rise of the active school movement
• Trends toward improved civic education
• Increased protection of youth
• The emergence of novel educational movements

There was a significant transformation... Continue reading "Andrés Manjón: Biography, Pedagogy, and Legacy" »

Solon's Economic & Social Reforms

Solon implemented significant economic, social, and political changes, including freeing those enslaved by debt and prohibiting using oneself as loan collateral. He also reformed government institutions.

Cleisthenes' Democratic Reforms

Cleisthenes, in the late sixth century BC, organized citizens into demes based on residence, not birth or wealth. He expanded citizen participation, ensuring equal rights for all.

Pericles' Athenian Democracy

Pericles perfected the democratic system by transferring powers from the aristocratic Areopagus to the ecclesia. He introduced payments for public service, making it accessible beyond the wealthy, thus solidifying Athenian democracy in the 5th century BC.

Contrasting Political

Alfonso XIII's 1931 Manifesto

This primary source text, socio-political in nature, is the manifesto of Alfonso XIII addressed to the country. He handed it to the Council of Ministers on April 14, 1931, but it was published in ABC three days later, on April 17, 1931. It was subsequently published in other newspapers, often with accompanying commentary.

Historical Context

Alfonso XIII was the last monarch of his lineage to reign in Spain. The period leading up to 1931 was marked by political corruption, economic exhaustion, and growing labor and socialist movements. It was thought that Primo de Rivera could solve these problems (likened to a 'Surgeon Iron'). Alfonso XIII granted him power in 1923, which he held until 1930. The subsequent government... Continue reading "Alfonso XIII's 1931 Manifesto and Spain's Second Republic" »

Treaty V: The Pardoner

- The pardoner was the man who sold bulls, for example, removed privileged documents from religious orders, eating meat, etc. prohibited by church regulations on certain days.
- The pardoner of Lazarillo is the most shameless that no one has ever seen.
- Lazaro makes a silent spectator of the delusions of the pardoner, learning to keep quiet.

Treaty VI: The Master of Painting Tambourines and the Waterboy
- It's almost as schematic as the fourth; just say it serves two masters, the second being the watering hole that was four years.
- With savings, he could buy a sword and clothes. He goes from teen to adult.

Treaty VII: The Dean of San Salvador

- Lazarillo recounts that he has been a constable, but he has left him because he... Continue reading "Understanding the Themes and Characters in Lazarillo" »

Outline of Scientific Knowledge Through History

Greco-Medieval Era

Introduction

Philosophy was considered equivalent to Science and dealt with universal essences. Myth, on the other hand, was associated with *doxa*, representing multiple and changing appearances. The Middle Ages maintained a similar scheme, but with a theological basis.

The Universe: A Biological Model

• The universe was seen as a living being, finite (limited) and ordered (a cosmos), and full of matter (not empty).
• Qualitative Approach: Nature endowed each substance with potentialities determining its nature:
  • Plants: grow, survive, nurture, and reproduce.
  • Animals: feel, crave, and move.
  • Humans: think.
• Geocentric and Geostatic: A heterogeneous view where celestial phenomena differed from

José Ortega y Gasset: A Biographical Sketch

José Ortega y Gasset was born in Madrid in 1883, into a liberal and enlightened bourgeois family. His mother owned the newspaper El Imparcial, where his father served as director. Ortega alternated his dedication between philosophy and journalism, acting as a prominent political theorist of his time. He staunchly defended Republican ideology.

After his exile, he returned to Spain in 1945 and passed away ten years later. Ortega's intellectual trajectory is typically divided into three periods: objectivist, ratiovitalist, and perspectivist.

Historical and Cultural Context of Ortega's Era

This period holds significant importance in the recent history of Spain and the world. In Spain, the Bourbon Restoration... Continue reading "Ortega y Gasset: Spanish Philosophy in Historical Perspective" »

Business Ethics and Organizational Values

Business ethics defines what an organization should or should not do. It encompasses the principles and values governing the behavior of business organizations.

Types of Ethics Classes

• Descriptive Ethics: Focuses on identifying and understanding the conduct of individuals and their moral beliefs.
• Normative Ethics: Addresses what may or may not be permissible within an organization, setting standards for behavior.

Beyond Minimum Legal Requirements

A broader reflection on business ethics involves practices that implicate the norms and values of individuals and society. Ethics often goes beyond minimum legal requirements, encouraging actions that benefit more than just self-interest.

Ethical Charters

Ethical charters... Continue reading "Company Values, Business Ethics, and Organizational Culture Dynamics" »