Technology and the Texture of Modernity

This chapter introduces networks, contexts/ecologies, and innovations as the three main concepts that make technology pivotal for constructing contemporary societies, as well as many ideas of modernity. Technologies are not mere artifacts, but also sociotechnical networks made by distinct artifacts composed, in turn, by different elements belonging to various technical networks. Digitalization has exagerated and changed this process, which was present from the very beginning of modern technological history. Any multiple assemblage looks for its continuous existence in two different fields: at the mere technical level, on standardization and classification of elements and activities; and at a human and social level, on uses, habits, conventions, and practices.

Dimension feminine in The Respectful Prostitute’s Jean- Paul Sartre and The Blind Prostitute’s Badr Shaker al-Sayyabe La dimension féminine dans La P….respectueuse de Jean-Paul Sartre et La Prostituée Aveugle de Badr Shaker al-Sayyabe

Jean-Paul Sartre and Badr Shakir al-Sayyabe are among the most prominent writers that critiqued the destructive role of capitalism and the patriarchal power system in the period of the Post-World War II crisis. Divided into three chapters, the present study examines two of the most eminent literary works in the history of the Western and Eastern societies in the fifties of the last decade: Jean Paul Sartre’s play : The Respectful Prostitute and Badr Shaker al-Sayyabe’s poem: The Blind Prostitute. Chapter one discusses the position of the prostitute in a patriarchal societies. Chapter two linguistically analyzes the prostitute’s behavior with men and evaluates the nature of a relationship when based on profit and loss. Such a relationship exposes the male dominance system on this social level through stigmatizing, marginalizing and depriving of her family establishing rights. Chapter Three sheds light on the prostitute’s ego and the other. In the two works, the society double standard is presented in dealing with status of a woman, rather than a man, as a prostitute, something that leads to uncover the individuality of such a character. Thus, and in addition to justly picturing prostitution as a human setback in all the western and Eastern societies, Sartre and al – Sayyab succeed in visualizing humanity decay within the perspective of the preceding decades. Résumé Jean-Paul Sartre et Badr Shakir al-Sayyabe font partie des écrivains qui ont contribué à travers leurs œuvres à critiquer le système capitaliste et la société masculine dans la période de l'après-guerre. En lisant les deux ouvrages, nous avons choisi comme sujet commun de cette étude d'analyser le statut de prostituée dans les sociétés orientale et occidentale au cours des années 1950 du siècle dernier. L'étude est divisée en trois chapitres : Le premier chapitre est basé sur la présentation du statut de la prostituée dans les communautés masculines des deux auteurs. Le deuxième chapitre analyse linguistiquement le comportement de la prostituée envers les hommes et la nature de la relation basée sur le principe du profit ou de la perte. Cette relation met d'abord en évidence la domination du système masculin sur cette partie social, le problème de la stigmatisation sociale, de la marginalisation et de la privation de son droit d'avoir et de fonder une famille. Le troisième chapitre traite la position de la prostituée entre le moi et l'autre. Dans les deux œuvres, le point de vue de la société semble être un double standard dans la condamnation de la femme comme prostituée plutôt que comme homme. Ce mécanisme nous amène à retrouver l'identité de la prostituée. Nous arrivons à conclure que le succès de Sartre et d'al-Sayyabe en présentant cette profession comme un échec humain pour les sociétés orientales et occidentales et la décadence de l'homme ou de la femme et en les dépeignant avec une perspective qui correspond aux crises du siècle dernier.

An Optimization Decision Support Model for Sustainable Urban Regeneration Investments

In order to support the decision-making process related to the reduction of land consumption into the urban regeneration interventions, the present research has the aim to define and propose a goal programming-based model that can be adopted for the negotiation phases of public and private subjects involved. In particular, the proposed model can provide for a range of feasible scenarios that, according to the specific purposes of the Public Administration, can be implemented in order to achieve the financial, environmental and social level of sustainability targets set by the Agenda 2030. In this way even the private entrepreneur can verify his personal convenience to participate in the investment. Furthermore, the possibility provided by the model to choose a different combination of urban parameters that define the convenience of interventions before their implementation, could reduce the increasingly significant problem of badly concluded interventions, interrupted because they lack an effective ex ante evaluation.

A preference to learn from successful rather than common behaviours in human social dilemmas

Human cooperation is often claimed to be special and requiring explanations based on gene–culture coevolution favouring a desire to copy common social behaviours. If this is true, then individuals should be motivated to both observe and copy common social behaviours. Previous economic experiments, using the public goods game, have suggested individuals' desire to sacrifice for the common good and to copy common social behaviours. However, previous experiments have often not shown examples of success. Here we test, on 489 participants, whether individuals are more motivated to learn about, and more likely to copy, either common or successful behaviours. Using the same social dilemma and standard instructions, we find that individuals were primarily motivated to learn from successful rather than common behaviours. Consequently, social learning disfavoured costly cooperation, even when individuals could observe a stable, pro-social level of cooperation. Our results call into question explanations for human cooperation based on cultural evolution and/or a desire to conform with common social behaviours. Instead, our results indicate that participants were motivated by personal gain, but initially confused, despite receiving standard instructions. When individuals could learn from success, they learned to cooperate less, suggesting that human cooperation is maybe not so special after all.

(Circular) Path Dependence—The Role of Vineyards in Land Use, Society and Regional Development—The Case of Lubuskie Region (Poland)

The main goals of the article are: (a) presentation of the wine traditions of the region in the context of the concept of path dependence and wastescapes, as well as their impact on the spatial, social and promotional aspect of wine making; (b) identification and characteristics of the vineyards in Lubuskie Region in 2021; and (c) linking wine traditions with creating the identity of the region and implementing activities supporting its development. A case study was performed in accordance with the triangulation of research methods and techniques: (1) analysis of existing data and relating them to the activities of vineyards; (2) covert participant observation technique; and (3) qualitative field interviews with vineyard owners or managers. The vineyards of the Lubuskie Region are an important tourist attraction and local wines enrich the local food offers. However, the scale of production, still being rather small, comes with higher costs of obtaining the final product. At the social level, wine-growing activity presents a great deal of value and importance, and appears to be a reflection of positive endeavours. Wine making in the region is a complex example of contemporary cultural and social processes that are only just beginning to be observed in area.

Problems of Spanish [z], [s], [c] Sounds Pronunciation in Teaching Standards of the Spanish Language as a Foreign

The present article considers linguistic norms and pronunciation standard of the Spanish language. It is shown that from the theoretical point of view the normative standards of dialectic variation of the Spanish language are considered. The problem of geographically diversified pronunciation standard of the Spanish consonant sounds is established. It is being noted that the unified standard language norm for all Spanish- speaking countries to be used in terms of teaching standards of the Spanish language as a foreign. The conclusion is made that knowledge of functioning particularities of the language system at cultural and social level is highly needed. In addition to that dialectic and accent variations of the Spanish language are to be taken into consideration

Translocational Positionality of Returnee Migrants: The New Normal

The globalization and migration processes are typical features of our societies that affect policy, economy and the culture of each country. Migration involves many challenges: identity issues and well-being of migrants in negotiating new roles and values. At the social level, migration involves demographic, educational, sociological and employment aspects. The reasons of migration are numerous, including the economic as the major one. The authors employ a multidisciplinary approach by drawing on the geographical, sociological and anthropological disciplines in disclosing the narrative of returnees. The methodology employed in this study is based on semi structured interviews with seven returnee women. The study focuses on the transcultural and transnational positionality of the Latvian returnee migrants who are trying to settle down in Latvia, by revealing their hopes and struggles while relocating in a new cultural context. In this study, the authors place a particular focus on the narratives of female returnees. The main question is directed at how the returnees locate themselves at the conjuncture of diverse localities in building their transcultural identity.

Does Money Buy Happiness?

After a relatively low level of survival and comfort, additional consumption does not increase happiness significantly, especially at the social level. At the individual level, people want more due to the relative competition effect which cancels out at the social level. In addition, the adaptation effects and environmental disruption effects also work to limit the contributions of higher consumption and enlarge the gap between expectation and actuality.

Factors Affecting Happiness

Many factors may affect happiness, including how our needs (including the five levels identified by Maslow) are satisfied. Four important F’s for happiness at the individual level are: faith, form/fitness, family, and friends. At the social level, important factors include environmental quality, equality, social capital (including trust).

Object-Based Trace Model for Automatic Indicator Computation in the Human Learning Environments

This paper proposes a traces model in the form of an object or class model (in the UML sense) which allows the automatic calculation of indicators of various kinds and independently of the computer environment for human learning (CEHL). The model is based on the establishment of a trace-based system that encompasses all the logic of traces collecting and indicators calculation. It is im-plemented in the form of a trace database. It is an important contribution in the field of the exploitation of the traces of apprenticeship in a CEHL because it pro-vides a general formalism for modeling the traces and allowing the calculation of several indicators at the same time. Also, with the inclusion of calculated indica-tors as potential learning traces, our model provides a formalism for classifying the various indicators in the form of inheritance relationships, which promotes the reuse of indicators already calculated. Economically, the model can allow organi-zations with different learning platforms to invest only in one traces Management System. At the social level, it can allow a better sharing of trace databases be-tween the various research institutions in the field of CEHL.