Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for University

Thomas Hobbes (17th Century)

In the opinion of many scholars, Thomas Hobbes stands as one of the first great political philosophers of modern times. His cultural antecedents were the Reformation and the Renaissance, movements which, despite their differences, shared a common thread: a yearning to return to origins. The Reformation challenged established religious traditions, while the Renaissance extolled the virtues of classical philosophy. However, these movements also engendered discord, particularly concerning religious authority, leading to widespread conflict. It was an era marked by ambiguity and the absence of clear authority.

Born amidst the tumult of civil war, Hobbes's philosophical outlook was profoundly shaped by this experience.... Continue reading "Thomas Hobbes and the Social Contract" »

Truman Doctrine

The Truman Doctrine was an American foreign policy whose stated purpose was to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. It was announced to Congress by President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947, and further developed on July 12, 1948, when he pledged to contain threats in Greece and Turkey. Direct American military force was usually not involved, but Congress appropriated financial aid to support the economies and militaries of Greece and Turkey. More generally, the Truman Doctrine implied American support for other nations allegedly threatened by Soviet communism. The Truman Doctrine became the foundation of American foreign policy, and led, in 1949, to the formation of NATO, a military alliance that is still... Continue reading "Cold War Foreign Policies: Truman Doctrine, Deterrence, and Domino Theory" »

Limitations of GDP Calculation

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculations face several inherent limitations:

• Excludes non-market activities (e.g., domestic activities, housewives' labor, subsistence production, black market).
• Does not include depreciation of capital.
• Some market activities are included as an estimation instead of their real contribution to production (e.g., health services, police).
• Includes all production independent of its use, utility, or improvement of social welfare (i.e., defense spending).
• Does not account for negative effects like the loss of national patrimony or wealth (e.g., loss of fertile land or forests).

Free Float Exchange Rate System Analysis

A free float exchange rate system offers distinct advantages and disadvantages:... Continue reading "Economic Models, Exchange Rates, and Population Dynamics" »

The Electric Scooter Accumulates 3,000 Fines in Barcelona in 2018

The City Council and the Urban Guard warn that these vehicles are not toys, so their drivers must respect the regulations.

The increase in sanctions to electric scooter drivers, about 3,000 in 2018, has led the Barcelona City Council to redouble the information about the traffic regulations of these vehicles, which has been in force since 2017, informed this Friday Ricardo Salas, mayor of the Urban Guard. Manuel Valdés, Manager of Mobility and Infrastructure of the consistory, stressed that these vehicles are not toys and emphasized that it is important to remember the regulations to all those who have thought of buying or giving them away.

Electric scooters are prohibited from

The Negotiation Process and Core Definitions

The Negotiation Process Flow

The negotiation process typically follows these steps:

1. Offer
2. Counter Offer
3. Concession
4. Compromise
5. Agreement

Phases of Negotiation

• Preparation Phase
• Negotiation Phase
• After-Negotiation Phase

Definition of Negotiation

Negotiation is a communication process between multiple parties with similar or different points of view, goals, and interests, aiming to reach an agreement and achieve a win-win situation.

Business and International Negotiation

This is an interactional process of communication where one side (a stranger) has something that the other side (a stranger) wants, and vice versa.

Keys to Successful Negotiation

Conditions for Successful Negotiation

Crucial elements for achieving positive... Continue reading "Essential Concepts and Dynamics of Effective Negotiation" »

Types of Negotiation

• Distributive Negotiation: Parties compete to determine a fixed sum of value. The focus is on who will claim the most value (win-lose scenario).
• Integrative Negotiation: Parties integrate their interests into an agreement, aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome (win-win scenario).
• Multi-Phase Negotiation: Negotiation takes place over several sessions or phases.
• Multiparty Negotiation: At least two negotiators in each group, and there can be more than two groups involved.

Distributive Negotiation

Getting the Other Side on the Table

1. Offer Incentives: Such as money, time, service, or support.
2. Put a Price on the Status Quo: Highlight the costs or disadvantages of not negotiating.
3. Enlist Support: Use allies to facilitate communication.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Forming Comparative Adjectives

The comparative form of an adjective is used to compare two things.

Rules for Forming Comparative Adjectives

• One syllable adjectives: Add "-er" (e.g., faster, bigger).
• One syllable adjectives ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: Double the final consonant and add "-er" (e.g., sad - sadder).
• One or two syllable adjectives: Add "-ier" (e.g., easy - easier).
• Two or more syllable adjectives: Use "more" before the adjective (e.g., expensive - more expensive).
• Irregular adjectives: These adjectives have unique comparative forms (e.g., good - better, bad - worse).

Forming Superlative Adjectives

The superlative form of an adjective is used to compare three or more things.

Rules for Forming

Linguistic Theories of Language

1. Behaviorism: According to behaviorism, habits form when learners' responses to external stimuli are positively reinforced. To behaviorist psychologists, language is another form of behavior that can be conditioned. The language teaching method associated with behaviorism is called audiolingualism. In this method, the stimulus-response-reinforcement cycle is realized through practice drills.

2. Structuralism: Originating partly from the work of Saussure, structuralism posits that language is speech, not writing. This means spoken language is paramount, and what a native speaker says is vital for learning.

3. Humanism: Humanistic approaches emerged in the mid-twentieth century, partly as a reaction to "de-humanizing" psychology.

Natural Selection: Principles of Adaptation

Natural selection is the principle that variations in the biology or behavior of a species result in some individuals possessing traits that confer an advantage in survival. This process is highly dependent on the environment.

Individuals with these advantageous traits are more likely to survive, prosper, and reproduce. Over time, the population becomes dominated by individuals exhibiting these beneficial biological or behavioral characteristics. Offspring of the same species can be born with mutations, introducing new variations. Natural selection drives populations to become adapted, or increasingly well-suited, to their environments over time. This process relies on the environment and requires existing... Continue reading "Understanding Natural Selection and Brain Functions" »

Marriage in American Literature

Marriage is one of the most prominent themes portrayed in some American literary works, and there are different conceptions of the issue.

Washington Irving

In Rip Van Winkle, the protagonist sees marriage as a punishment and a source of unhappiness. Rip Van Winkle is depicted as a humble person who helps everyone that needs him and who has no evilness inside. However, his relationship with his wife is different. In fact, when he wakes up and finds out that 20 years have passed and also that everyone he knows has disappeared, Rip feels sad, but not for the loss of Dame Van Winkle.

Anne Bradstreet

In Letter to my Loving Husband, there is a different approach to marriage. The poem is a praise to her husband, whom she... Continue reading "Marriage in American Literature: A Deep Dive" »