19th Century Social Change: Reforms, Darwin, Durkheim
19th Century Societal Transformation
In poorer environments, overcrowding facilitated the spread of diseases, food shortages, and educational deficits. As societal issues escalated, people seemed to be heading towards a metaphorical hell, with moral decay, often fueled by excessive alcohol consumption, crime, and violence. The urgent need for education became apparent.
Education as a Catalyst for Change
Unlike other societal elements, education does not operate within a free market, necessitating legislative
Read MoreGeographic Origins of Everyday Words and Concepts
Discover the fascinating places that gave their names to common objects, foods, concepts, and more.
Nankeen
- A sturdy yellow or buff cotton cloth.
- A Chinese porcelain with a blue-and-white pattern.
Origin: Nanjing (Nankeen), China
Nantua Sauce
A cream sauce flavored with shellfish.
Origin: Nantua, France
Nashville
The country music industry.
Origin: Nashville, the capital of Tennessee
Neanderthal
Crude or boorish.
Origin: Neanderthal, Germany
New England Clam Chowder
A thick soup made with clams, onions, salt pork,
Read MoreEnglish Sentence Rewriting Exercises
English Sentence Transformation Practice
Rewrite the following sentences without changing their original meaning. Pay close attention to grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.
What is the price of this jacket?
- How much is this jacket?
- How much does this jacket cost?
Our guests arrived during dinner. (while)
- Our guests arrived while we were having dinner.
We’ve decided to meet for lunch at one o’clock. (going to)
- We are going to meet for lunch at one o’clock.
I haven’t seen John for ages.
- It’s been ages
Literary Insights: Llor’s Laura and Fitzgerald’s Gatsby
Laura a la Ciutat dels Sants: Context i Anàlisi
Introducció i Marc Històric
L’obra Laura a la ciutat dels sants és una novel·la psicològica escrita per Miquel Llor i publicada el 1931. Aquesta novel·la s’emmarca en els inicis del segle XX, una època en què la narrativa catalana experimentava una renovació després d’una crisi novel·lística. Durant el segle XIX, la literatura catalana es va centrar principalment en la poesia, però amb el canvi de segle, la novel·la va recuperar
Read MoreDefinitions: Encounter, Memorial, and More
Definitions
Encounter: a meeting, especially one that happens by chance.
Memorial: an object, often large and made of stone, that has been built to honour a famous person or event.
Stunned: very shocked or surprised.
Firsthand: If you experience something firsthand, you experience it yourself.
Carvings: a shape or pattern cut into wood or stone or the skill of doing this.
Immortalized: to make someone or something so famous that that person or thing is remembered for a very long time.
Gazing: to look at
Read MoreUrbanization Stages in Spain: From the 19th Century to Today
The urbanization process is a reflection of the spatial organization of the economy and society in a given territory. Among the factors that may modify this process include the characteristics of the physical environment, stocking density, type of dominant economy, the state of development, the degree of external dependence, lifestyle, political and administrative organization, and cultural and political territorial factors.
Read MoreOrtega y Gasset’s Point of View: Philosophy, Culture, History
Historical, Cultural, and Philosophical Context
The text under discussion, Ortega’s “The Doctrine of the Point of View,” is Chapter X of his book The Theme of Our Time. In this work, Ortega delves into an issue that also preoccupied Nietzsche: the role of Socrates in Greek thought. Ortega argues that Socratic philosophy was founded on a fundamental error: prioritizing life, culture, and intellect over vitality. This Socratic error persists throughout the history of philosophy, failing to find a reconciling
Read MoreJohn Locke’s Enduring Legacy: Social Contract, Rights, and Governance
John Locke’s Social Contract and Civil Society
The Origins of Civil Society
John Locke posits that while individuals possess natural rights, these rights are not always respected or effectively protected in the state of nature. To ensure the more effective preservation of rights and freedoms, individuals form a civil society through a social contract or agreement. Establishing a civil society involves individuals giving up certain rights, but it offers significant benefits:
- A written, established law.
Classic Literary Analysis: Short Stories and Poetic Themes
Vanka’s Plight: A Christmas Eve Letter
Vanka, a nine-year-old orphan, was apprenticed to Alyakhin, a shoemaker. He had barely been in Moscow for three months when he arrived at the shoemaker’s house. The mistress, master Alyakhin, and other senior apprentices were cruel to him. Vanka longed for his grandfather, Konstantin Makarich, to come to his aid and save him from the master’s cruelty.
A Desperate Plea to Grandfather
He decided to write a secret letter to his grandfather, explaining his plight
Read MoreAntonio’s New York Journey: Culture, Landmarks, & History
Antonio’s First New York Visit
Why Antonio Hadn’t Visited New York Before
Antonio’s family moved to Spain just before his 12th birthday, and he never got the opportunity to visit New York.
Understanding New York’s Diverse Identity
Defining a ‘Real’ New Yorker
People from different races and cultures have been coming to New York to seek a better life since the city was founded. It has always been a melting pot of cultures and religions. There are people there from every part of the world, and they are
Read More