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

Marx's Historical Materialism

According to Marxist doctrine, scientific and philosophical theories must be within the field of praxis (practice). Marx claims that it is high time that philosophers no longer simply observe the world but engage in transforming it. Consequently, he tried to develop his theory of knowledge. This should not be considered as such in a strict sense, not to be an epistemology on its slopes. Instead, it gathers conceptual elements for a Marxist critique of ideology, conceived as systematic ways to create false consciousness of reality.

Marx believed that the knowledge that every human being has of social and historical reality is determined by their economic status. This led Marx to affirm that it is reality that determines... Continue reading "Marx's Historical Materialism: Class Struggle & Revolution" »

Composition of the Constituent Assembly, 1869

Description and Interpretation of the 1869 Assembly

This semicircular sector chart illustrates a significant political event: the composition of the Constituent Assembly following the 1869 elections in Spain. It details the number of seats (representatives) secured by each political group that gained representation in the Cortes of 1869. A total of 351 deputies were distributed as follows:

• Progressive Party: 159 seats
• Liberal Union: 69 seats
• Federal Republican Party: 69 seats
• Democratic Party: 20 seats
• Carlist Party: 18 seats
• Isabelino Party: 14 seats
• Unitary Republicans: 2 seats (maintaining symbolic representation)

Historical Context: The 1868 Revolution and Suffrage

These election results emerged directly... Continue reading "Spain's 1869 Constituent Assembly: Composition and Impact" »

The Bologna Process: Curriculum Reform and Pedagogical Concerns

Abstract

The author discusses the Bologna Plan, highlighting its proposal for a unified study plan. The plan aims to create a common European educational system, emphasizing the importance of work done both inside and outside the classroom. The author expresses support for classes while questioning whether the new system can provide the depth, experiences, and engagement of traditional methods.

Subject

Curriculum change in higher education.

Structure of the Original Document

The original document is structured as follows:

• Introduction:

  Presents the proposed study plan.

• Development:

  Details the components of the plan.

• Conclusion:

  Expresses concerns about the potential loss of direct professor-

Cooperation and Aggression in Human Nature

Aggression and Violence: Elements inherent to human nature? Thomas Hobbes believed that man is essentially selfish, seeking only his own benefit. According to Hobbes, competition and rivalry are natural among men, while cooperation and solidarity arise later.

Sociological Darwinism

This theory posits that just as individuals and species evolve, so do societies. One of the various mechanisms that promote this progress is the struggle for survival. Thus, conflict is seen as an essential mechanism for human progress.

External Factors Influencing Behavior

This perspective suggests that violence and conflict in social life are not inherent in human nature. Humans are not inherently aggressive and competitive,... Continue reading "Human Nature: Socialization, Cooperation, and Conflict" »

Catalonia: Agriculture, Tenancy and Rural Structure

In Catalonia, the majority of farmers were small- or medium-size owners, although there were a large number of tenants (arrendataris / darrendataris). Catalan tenants, unlike those in the rest of Spain, often had long-term contracts, which helped modernize their fields.

Urban Social Structure and Social Classes

Like the countryside, the city was also a well-structured society, divided into classes and even by neighborhoods. At the top was the bourgeoisie. In Catalonia and the Basque Country the industrial bourgeoisie was enriched by industry and possessed large sums of money, making them the highest urban class. There was also a financial bourgeoisie (banking-related). Frequent marriages occurred... Continue reading "Catalonia Agriculture, Urban Society & Mass Culture in Spain" »

Spanish Orthography Rules

Rules for 'H'

• Words beginning with diphthongs, such as hie, hue, hui, and hiato.
• Forms of verbs whose infinitives begin with 'h', except oler (to smell).
• Words beginning with Greek and Latin compositional elements: hecto-, helio-, hemi-, hemo-, hepta-, hetero-, hyper-, hypo-, homo-.
• Words belonging to the same family as other words beginning with 'h', with exceptions like óseo (from hueso), hueco (from hueco), huérfano and orfandad (from huérfano), and óvalo and ovar (from huevo).

Rules for 'G'

• Verb forms whose infinitives end in -ger, -gir, or -gerar before 'e' or 'i', except tejer (to weave) and crujir (to crunch/gnash).
• All words beginning with geo-.
• All words that end in -logía and -pedagogía.
• All words ending with

Spanish Literature in the 18th Century

The Enlightenment

In the 18th century, European thought underwent a major change, initially in more advanced nations like England and France, and later in other countries. The sense of security that had existed in many aspects of human thought in previous centuries began to disappear.

The bourgeoisie began to dominate as a social class, disputing the political power of the nobility. With the rise of the bourgeoisie came the spread of the Enlightenment. This movement rejected ideological, political, and religious dogma. Opposed to the principle of authority that existed before, it now only supported conclusions reached through free human reason.

By mid-century, the Encyclopedia, led by Diderot and d'Alembert,... Continue reading "Spanish Literature in the 18th Century: Enlightenment to Pre-Romanticism" »

Jean Racine and the Principles of French Classicism

Jean Racine (1639-1699) was a significant dramatic author of the 17th century in France. His works are characterized by:

• Respect for the basic rules of classicism: one conflict, one day, and one place.
• Incorporation of myths from Greek and ancient Roman literature. He always sought inspiration for his plays in the classical world and remained true to the stories of myths.
• Adherence to the principle of decorum, ensuring no socially unacceptable situations are depicted.
• Centrally simple plots, with each based on a single conflict.
• The conflict's axis is passionate love, as love in Racine's works triggers intense passion.
• Facts are reduced to the minimum; for this reason, the conflict is expressed in

Understanding Globalization

Globalization is a series of changes that make the world's societies more interconnected, fostering mutual relations and increasing interdependence among countries. We live in an information society driven by networks. Scientific and technological knowledge, images, and securities are all part of globalization, which is an economic, political, and cultural phenomenon:

• Economic: Characterized by increased interaction between the economies of individual countries.
• Political: Has a global effect that transcends national borders.
• Cultural: Involves an inevitable exchange between cultures. This exchange enriches our world, making it more pluralistic and diverse. However, it also carries the risk of reducing cultural diversity

1970s Educational Landscape

The 1970s are known for the General Education Act of 1970 and its new teaching guidelines. The ministerial order of 1970 introduced these "New Teaching Guidelines," which echoed international trends. At the classroom practice level, a series of "pedagogical fads" emerged, with four major ideational cores spreading among the most active teaching staff:

• Globalization
• Environmental Research
• The Corporeal in School (Physicality in Education)
• Piagetian Psychology

As the decade progressed, teaching was conceived in two primary ways: traditional teaching and active teaching.

Traditional Teaching

Traditional teaching emphasized discipline and autonomous treatment with a fixed time for each subject area. It relied on textbook material... Continue reading "1970s Teaching: Pedagogical Shifts & Core Dimensions" »