READING HAN FEI AS SOCIAL SCIENTIST : A CASE-STUDY IN HISTORICAL CORRESPONDENCE

Han Fei was one of the main proponents of Legalism in Qin-era China. Although his works are mostly read from a historic perspective, the aim of this paper is to advance an interpretation of Han Fei as a social scientist. The social sciences are the fields of academic scholarship that study society and its institutions as a consequence of human behavior. Methodologically, social sciences combine abstract approaches in model-building with empiric investigations, seeking to prove the functioning of the models. In a third step, social sciences also aim at providing policy advice. Han Fei can be read as operating similarly. First, he builds a model of the nature of men, the state, and its interconnections, and then he uses history as empiric ground to prove his models. Again, after studying society as a raw fact, Han Fei develops models on how to deal with society. This article examines the social scientific inclinations of Han Fei by re-reading Chapter 49 of his book and applying an analysis in historical correspondence. This article serves as a case-study in this new type of analysis that can prove fruitful for the advancement of comparative philosophy

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” in the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, epitomizes a political approach to climate action, devoid of scientific oversight at its inception. This political nature underscores its essence, emphasizing action over guaranteed results. With a foundation in common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), nations set diverse climate goals based on unique circumstances. However, this diversity complicates policy alignment and raises challenging questions, such as the feasibility of carbon border adjustments and intellectual property dilution. Analyzing CBDR within the Paris Agreement framework unveils its evolution, shaped by political negotiations and national actions. This study delves into the intricate interplay between politics, policy, and international soft law, illuminating the agreement\u27s dynamic nature

Uma perspectiva austríaca do ESG

This paper analyzes the contemporary debate about ESG – Environment, Social, Governance – using economic insights from Austrian Economics; particularly, on entrepreneurship, agency, and information asymmetry. These insights are contrasted to similar concepts in “mainstream” economics suggesting that the Austrian insight goes beyond them, first by stressing effectiveness in addition to efficiency and institutions in addition to law-likeliness. When applied to ESG, the Austrian insight portraits ESG as a special case of the socialist, or economic calculation debate causing misalignments between inter- and intrafirm goals, exacerbates agency problems and suffers from serious flaws in its conceptualization as well as methodology. Relying on entrepreneurship, however, could make ESG work. This paper, thus, applies Austrian economics to contemporary debates claiming that its insights provide a unique perspective but at the same time updating its research program.ste artículo analiza el debate contemporáneo sobre ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) utilizando las ideas económicas de la escuela austriaca de economía; en particular, las teorías sobre el espíritu empresarial, la agencia y la asimetría de la información. Estas ideas se contrastan con conceptos similares de la economía "dominante", que sugiere que la visión austriaca va más allá, en primer lugar, al hacer hincapié en la eficacia, además de la eficiencia, y en las instituciones, además de la legalidad. Cuando se aplica al ESG, la visión austriaca retrata el ESG como un caso especial del debate socialista, o de cálculo económico. El ESG provoca desajustes entre los objetivos inter- e infraempresariales, exacerba los problemas de agencia y padece de graves defectos tanto en su conceptualización como en su metodología. Sin embargo, apoyarse en el espíritu empresarial podría hacer que la ESG funcionara. Así pues, este artículo aplica la economía austriaca a los debates contemporáneos, afirmando que sus ideas proporcionan una perspectiva única, pero al mismo tiempo actualizando su programa de investigación.Esse artigo analisa o debate contemporâneo sobre ESG (Environment, Social, Governance), utilizando as ideias econômicas da Escola Austríaca de Economia; em particular, as teorias sobre empreendedorismo, agência e assimetria de informação. Essas ideias contrastam com conceitos similares da economia “dominante”, sugerindo que a visão austríaca vai além, em primeiro lugar, do foco em eficácia, além da eficiência e nas instituições, além da legalidade. Quando aplicado ao ESG, a visão austríaca o retrata como um caso específico do debate socialista, ou do cálculo econômico. O ESG provoca desajustes entre os objetivos inter e infraempresariais, exacerba os problemas de agência e padece de graves defeitos em termos de conceitualização e metodologia. No entanto, apoiar-se no empreendedorismo poderia fazer o ESG funcionar. Assim, esse artigo aplica a economia austríaca aos debates contemporâneos, afirmando que suas ideias proporcionam uma perspectiva única e, ao mesmo tempo, atualizamos seu programa de pesquisa

State-capitalism and Globalization – a challenge to whom?

State-capitalism is an economic system in which governments manipulate market outcomes for political purposes. Governments embrace state-capitalism because it serves political as well as economic purposes—not because it’s the most efficient means of generating prosperity. This paper examines the institutional, economic and social combination in which state-capitalism is possible and contributes to prosperity. It is argues that state-capitalism works best under authoritarian rule because there is no constituency to provide for. However, this article also argues that state-capitalism has fundamental flaw

Do bigger legislatures lead to bigger government? Evidence from a Brazilian municipal council reform

Do bigger legislatures lead to bigger government? We exploit a Brazilian reform that allocated the number of municipal council seats based on population thresholds in a regression discontinuity design. We find that larger councils have significantly higher public expenditures on social goods and legislative costs. Increased spending is partly financed by significantly higher local tax revenues and is driven by a less salient form of tax to voters – on services – than property taxes. As a potential explanation for our findings, we show that, more council seats led to greater political diversity

Virtues and the interested “self” in Confucius and Adam Smith

This paper examines to which extent Confucius and Adam Smith can be read as virtue-ethicists. The goal of this paper is to show that, despite all differences, the concept of the “self” performs similarly in Smith and Master Kong. Although Confucius condemns the sole pursuit of self-interests, he still accepts that it is the interested self that cultivates itself and behaves according to the rites. Adam Smith highlights the value of virtues as an orientation for the individuals on how to develop their self-interest without harming others, ideally strengthening society. This paper shows that moral self-cultivation is important to both. In questions of philosophical anthropology and ethics, Master Kong and Adam Smith share many convictions. There are however two specific differences between them: First, each developed a social philosophy against a different social, political, and institutional background. Second, while ritual propriety and political leadership are important for Confucius, in Adam Smith, they are addenda. Nothing differentiates the leader from the “gentleman”

Design Thinking na educação: Um estudo bibliométrico em pesquisas internacionais

Design Thinking is a strategic proposal to generate innovation, which can even be adopted in education. However, stakeholders involved in the pedagogic process should know such proposal first. Thus, developing scientific research that shows the application of Design thinking in the educational context is crucial. The main goal of this work is to identify the profile of research about Design Thinking as a strategy for innovation in international higher education between 2013 and 2022. The year of 2022 had the highest number of publications about the subject. Five authors were responsible for publishing more than one study. Furthermore, social sciences was the field with the highest number of publications. The United States was the most productive country and, consequently, English was the prime language used. The most commonly adopted keywords were Design Thinking, Higher education, innovation and creativity. The most referenced author in the sample studied was Tim Brown.El Design Thinking es una estratégica propuesta de innovación, factible de ser adoptada inclusive en la educación. Sin embargo, para eso es necesario que los involucrados en el proceso pedagógico la conozcan. Así, buscar investigaciones científicas que presenten la implementación del Design Thinking en el contexto educativo es fundamental. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar el perfil de las investigaciones sobre Design Thinking como estrategia de innovación en la educación superior en el marco internacional entre 2013 y 2022. El año con mayor número de publicaciones sobre la temática fue el 2022. Solamente 5 autores publicaron más de un artículo. Además, el área de ciencias sociales fue aquella con mayor cantidad de publicaciones. Los Estados Unidos fue el país más productivo y, como consecuencia, el inglés fue el idioma principal. Las palabras claves más usadas fueron Design Thinking, Higher Education, innovation e creativity. El autor más referenciado en los textos que componen la muestra fue Tim Brown.O Design Thinking é uma proposta estratégica para gerar inovação, sendo possível adotá-la inclusive na educação. Porém, para isso é preciso que os envolvidos no processo pedagógico conheçam-na. Assim, buscar pesquisas científicas que apresentem a aplicação do Design Thinking no contexto educacional torna-se primordial. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar o perfil das pesquisas sobre Design Thinking como estratégia de inovação no ensino superior no âmbito internacional entre 2013 e 2022. O ano de 2022 foi o período com maior número de publicações sobre a temática. Apenas 5 autores publicaram mais de uma pesquisa. Além disso, a área de ciências sociais foi aquela com maior quantidade de publicações. Os Estados Unidos foi o país mais profícuo e, consequentemente, o inglês foi o principal idioma. As palavras-chave mais adotadas foram Design Thinking, Higher Education, innovation e creativity. O autor mais referenciado nos textos componentes da amostra foi Tim Brown

A questão nacional : história e atualidade de uma contradição política fundamental

O presente trabalho procura analisar a questão nacional como luta de classes e uma contradição política central na fase imperialista da história, do surgimento do imperialismo aos dias atuais. Também busca relacionar as revoluções de libertação nacional do século XX ocorridas no Terceiro Mundo com o socialismo e com diferentes modelos políticos antiimperialistas. Por fim, busca projetar a atualidade da questão nacional no desenvolvimento do século XXI diante da expansão imperialista desde a década de 1990. Para a realização da pesquisa, a base de investigação da mesma é o materialismo histórico e a tradição socialista, de Marx até o tempo presente.The present work seeks to analyze the national question as a class struggle and a central political contradiction in the imperialist phase of history, from the emergence of imperialism to the present day. It also seeks to relate the revolutions of national liberation of the 20th century occurred in the Third World with socialism and with different anti-imperialist political models. Finally, it seeks to project the relevance of the national question to the development of the 21st century in the face of imperialist expansion since the 1990s. For the realization of the research, the basis for its investigation is historical materialism and the socialist tradition, from Marx to present tense