Catholic social economy : past evolution and present challenges

Introducción: This article provides a historical interpretation of Catholic social economy (also called Social Catholicism) in an attempt to give a Christian form to capitalism. The aim of this writing is to reflect on the evolution of Catholic economic thought and to offer some foreseeable development in light of the experience that characterized the early stages of this movement. By Catholic social economy, the author does not mean the social doctrine of the church, but the whole set of scientific work of Catholic scholars, with their different orientations and acceptance by the official documents of the holy soil. Roman Catholicism is the only religion that has produced wide and continuous scientific research about political economy. This should not be considered an anomaly, because the positivistic attitude of modern economics tends to crowd out the classic unitary view of man and of a good life that characterizes Catholic anthropology. As a consequence, it can be considered an attempt to address scientific research in a way compatible to the Catholic view of the “social nature of man”, and not an attempt to resist or to contrast the role of science. The fundamental concepts of this stream of research have been the idea of natural law intended as a moral order (vs. the equilibrium of conflicting strategies), the social nature of man (vs. individualism and individual autonomy) and the role that charity and justice assume for individual behaviour inspired by the common good (vs. freedom and laissez faire)...

A possible alchemist apparatus from the early islamic period excavated at Ramla, Israel

Abstract: During extensive salvage excavations carried out during the years 2004-2008 in a large Early Islamic industrial area at the vicinities of Ramla, in Central Israel, an unparalleled industrial device was unearthed. The star-shaped, soil embedded installation, whose lower part was preserved, consisted of a central pottery jar surrounded by five minor jars, linked by ceramic pipes. Evidence of heat was observed mainly around the central vessel, and metal hollow cones perforated in the tip were found inside the surrounding jars. Although the manufacturing procedures and operation techniques of the installation are not completely clear, it is proposed that the installation is part of an industrial workshop or an alchemy laboratory. Both industry and alchemy were well-developed during the Early Islamic period and very often closely related, to the point that sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between them. The identification proposed is based on comparisons with tools described in literary sources, and somewhat later drawings and etchings. Circumstantial ceramic evidence was found, as well as the proximity of a bathhouse whose guests could have been the consumers of perfumes and unguents seem to reinforce this possibility. Due to the poor state of preservation of the device and the lack of available comparisons, the identification proposed here is tentative, and future research coupled with eventual new discoveries is needed in order to clarify this matter.

Alejandro E. Bunge : una visión de la Argentina

Resumen: El autor describe la concepción económica del Ingeniero Alejandro Bunge, quien se destacó como una de las personalidades con mayor capacidad visionaria en la Argentina de la primera mitad del siglo XX. Formado en la escuela histórica alemana, Bunge comprendió muy tempranamente la necesidad de una nueva orientación para la estrategia de desarrollo de nuestro país. Orientado por los objetivos de un conocimiento exhaustivo de la realidad nacional, una nueva estrategia productiva de sesgo agroindustrial y una amplia reforma social basada en los valores cristianos, Bunge trazó un camino que, según el autor, sigue siendo un desafío pendiente para la Argentina.

Ramesside, Late Nubian and christian pottery from Serra West in the Museum of Natural History, La Plata

Resumen: El Museo de Ciencias Naturales de La Plata, Argentina, posee una colección de piezas cerámicas provenientes del asentamiento egipcio y de la iglesia de Aksha, y de las tumbas nubias de Serra Oeste, sobre la margen izquierda del Nilo en la Baja Nubia, que pertenecen a las culturas meroítica y del Grupo X. Esta colección es producto del reparto después de las excavaciones realizadas por la Expedición Franco-Argentina en Sudán entre 1961 y 1963, como parte de las campañas de la UNESCO para salvar los monumentos de Nubia.

Local exchange in the southern levant during the early bronze age: a political economy viewpoint

Trade and relations between the southern Levant and other regions of the Near East (mainly Egypt) during the Early Bronze Age (ca. 3,600–2,300 BC) have been the subject of many studies. Research concerning the exchange of local commodities was almost ignored or was discussed in parochial studies, focusing on specific archaeological finds. It is the intention of this paper to present the results of recent research of the exchange of commodities provided by archaeological data from excavations in the Southern Levant with regard to economic theories on the exchange-value of goods and exchange networks. Conclusions regarding the type of society and the forms of government in the Southern Levant during the Early Bronze Age are also presented.

Herejías, espiritualidad, pastoral : ayer y hoy

Resumen: El autor del artículo propone un recorrido a través de las herejías que se presentaron en los primeros años de vida de la Iglesia con sus variantes y modalidades, y del testimonio de los Santos Padres. Su propósito es ofrecer un instrumento para la revisión de distintas actitudes actuales en el ámbito de la fe, la cristología y la eclesiología y plantear el desafío metodológico que proponen a la hora de elaborar respuestas. Presenta, en este sentido, las primeras herejías cristológicas y analiza los significados e implicancias en la perspectiva eclesiológica del docetismo, el gnosticismo, la tendencia monofisista y la herejía de Apolinar difundida en los siglos IV-V y el nestorianismo, y traza relaciones con el contexto cultural actual. Especial importancia concede al gnosticismo, tentación siempre presente de la existencia cristiana. Dentro de las herejías eclesiológicas, desarrolla el significado y las actitudes del movimiento donatista. En torno a las herejías de la gracia, desarrolla los contenidos de la doctrina pelagiana y de la propuesta semipelagiana como tendencia más espiritual y pastoral. Se destaca el valor de la Tradición que nos incorpora en la historia viva de la Iglesia.

La dinámica del viaje en el contexto del Ms. Esc. K-III-4 : Libro de Apolonio, Vida de Santa María Egipciaca, Libro de los tres reyes de Oriente

Resumen: Los personajes de los tres poemas castellanos del temprano siglo XIII que componen el manuscrito K-III-4 de la Biblioteca de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Libro de Apolonio, Vida de Santa María Egipciaca, Libro de los tres reyes de Oriente) viajan lamentando aquello que han perdido a causa de la ira regia, el propio pecado o la amenaza de muerte inminente, pero también para superar esas pérdidas. Esos viajes representan la medida de una aventura medieval cuya dinámica expresa la concepción profunda de la trayectoria vital como prueba cristiana, según se analizará en el presente trabajo.