Locus Amoenus vs. Locus Terribilis: The Spatial Dynamics of the Pastoral and the Urban in La Ceppède’s Théorèmes

The opening sonnets of Jean de La Ceppède’s Théorèmes (1613, 1622) present an urban vs. rural conflict that mirrors the dialectic between sin and salvation running throughout the work. La Ceppède’s focus for this struggle becomes the stark contrast between Jerusalem and the garden at the Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, as the place where Christ is persecuted and eventually tried, represents a Babylon-like enclave of transgression, while the garden is portrayed as a site of purity and tranquil reflection. From a literary standpoint, La Ceppède’s emphasis on the clash between dystopian and utopian settings comprises part of his adaptation of the pastoral, where this particular struggle becomes one of the genre’s principal motifs. In general, the contrast between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives emerges as the point of departure for the poet’s figuration of nature, both human and physical. A human construct, the city of Jerusalem becomes a metaphor for human corruption. In view of humanity’s fall in paradise and the denaturation it symbolizes, the poet’s goal, on both intellectual and affective levels, is to place the reader/dévot in a position to lift her/himself from the depravity of human nature to the grace of divine nature.

Atuação missionária jesuítica na América portuguesa: a peculiar via renascentista, sacramental e tridentina à salvação no(s) Novo(s) Mundo(s)

A Companhia de Jesus foi o emblema mais representativo da transformação e realização da nova prática da catequese na sua atuação missionária,durante a primeira Idade Moderna. A transformação vinha ocorrendo a partir da contraposição entre Reforma e Contrarreforma, no estabelecimento de analogias e diferenças da missão entre Europa, América e Ásia, e, finalmente, na esteira dos ecos das decisões conciliares de Trento em Lima. A partir dos tópicos que dividem o texto, o presente trabalho percorre - em uma síntese inevitavelmente esquemática, mas aberta à perspectiva de recentes investigações sobre o tema - essas problemáticas. Pensamos assim que elas possam ganhar clareza e coerência expositiva, mas, sobretudo, uma capacidade de inteligibilidade dos temas propostos, tendo em vista um resultado que não seja apenas uma aquisição (sempre parcial), mas, sobretudo, um novo ponto de partida para ulteriores investigações sobre as diretrizes apontadas.

Traduzione del primo canto dell'inferno dantesco in arabo

In this thesis, I have chosen to translate from Italian into Arabic Canto I of the Inferno, from Dante Alighieri’s epic poem the Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia) because it’s a masterpiece in both Italian and world literature. Also I have selected it for its artistic value and the universal themes that it depicts. In fact, my purpose in translating this great work into Arabic is to extol the cultural and universal aspects that can be common to human beings everywhere. My paper is written in Arabic and has six sections: A brief introduction on Dante’s life, an introduction to the Divine Comedy, a summary of Canto 1 of the Inferno and its analysis, Canto I of the Inferno in Italian, its translation into Arabic and finally a comment on the translation. The first part -a summary of Dante’s life was presented. The second part of my paper is an introduction to the Divine Comedy, the allegorical epic poem, consisting of three parts: The Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise). The third part is a summary and analysis of Canto 1 of the Inferno, Dante’s most renowned verses. The analysis of Canto highlights the everlasting conflict of man– sinning and giving in to temptation but then trying to repent and search for his soul’s salvation. He reflects on sin, existence, truth, God, love and salvation in his struggle through the dark and gloomy forest which symbolizes conflict and temptations man may succumb to. The influence of Christianity and the Middle ages here shows his commitment to religion and faith. Moreover, his meeting of Virgil, who guides him to the mountain during his journey to salvation, reflects the positive impact of Virgil’s philosophy on Dante. The fourth part presents the Italian version of Canto 1 of the Inferno. The fifth section of my paper is the translation of Canto 1 of the Inferno from Italian to Arabic. Translating an excerpt of Dante’s masterpiece was not an easy task: I had to consult several critique texts besides the Italian source text with explanations, and also some English versions to overcome any translation difficulties. As a student of translation, my goal was to be faithful in relaying to the Arabic audience the authenticity of Dante’s work, his themes, passions and aesthetic style. Finally, I present a conclusion including a comment on the translation and the bibliography of the sources I have consulted.

God, the WTO – and hunger

Considering that endemic hunger is a consequence of poverty, and that food is arguably the most basic of all human needs, this book chapter shows one of the more prominent examples of rules and policy fragmentation but also one of the most blatant global governance problems. The three monotheistic religions Judaism, Christians and Islam are surprisingly unanimous about God’s prescriptions on hunger or, put theologically, on what can be said, or should be said, about the interpretations and traditions which, taken together, form the respective and differentiated traditions, identities and views of these beliefs on how to deal with poverty and hunger. A clear social ethos, in the form of global needs satisfaction, runs through both Jewish and Christian texts, and the Qur’an (Zakat). It confirms the value inversion between the world of the mighty and that of the hungry. The message is clear: because salvation is available only through the grace of God, those who have must give to those who have not. This is not charity: it is an inversion of values which can not be addressed by spending 0.7% of your GDP on ODA, and the implication of this sense of redistributive justice is that social offenders will be subject to the Last Judgement. Interestingly, these religious scriptures found their way directly into the human rights treaties adopted by the United Nations and ratified by the parliaments, as a legal base for the duty to protect, to respect and to remedy. On the other side the contradiction with international trade law is all the more flagrant, and it has a direct bearing on poverty: systematic surplus food dumping is still allowed under WTO rules, despite the declared objective ‘to establish a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system’. A way forward would be a kind of ‘bottom up’ approach by focusing on extreme cases of food insecurity caused by food dumping, or by export restrictions where a direct effect of food insecurity in other countries can be established. Also, international financing institutions need to review their policies and lending priorities. The same goes for the bilateral investment treaties and a possible ‘public interest’ clause, at least in respect of agricultural land acquisitions in vulnerable countries. The bottom line is this: WTO rules cannot entail a right to violate other, equally binding treaty obligations when its membership as a whole claims to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals and pledges to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

From Similes to Allegory: The Deconstruction of Chariot Imagery in Early Buddhist Texts, Analyzed with Cognitive Metaphor Theory

The presentation will start by unfolding the various layers of chariot imagery in early Indian sources, namely, chariots as vehicles of gods such as the sun (sūrya), i.e. as symbol of cosmic stability; chariots as symbols of royal power and social prestige e.g. of Brahmins; and, finally, chariots as metaphors for the “person”, the “mind” and the “way to liberation” (e.g., Kaṭ.-Up. III.3; Maitr.-Up. II. 6). In Buddhist and non-Buddhist sources, chariots are in certain aspects used as a metaphor for the (old) human body (e.g., Caraka-S., Vi.3.37-38; D II.100; D II.107); apart from that, there is, of course, mention of the “real” use of chariots in sports, cults, journey, and combat. The most prominent example of the Buddhist use of chariot imagery is its application as a model for the person (S I.134 f.; Milindapañha, ed. Trenckner, 26), i.e., for highlighting the “non-substantial self”. There are, however, other significant examples of the usage of chariot imagery in early Buddhist texts. Of special interest are those cases in which chariot metaphors were applied in order to explain how the ‘self’ may proceed on the way to salvation – with ‘mindfulness’ or the ‘self’ as charioteer, with ‘wisdom’ and ‘confidence’ as horses etc. (e.g. S I. 33; S V.7; Dhp 94; or the Nārada-Jātaka, No. 545, verses 181-190). One might be tempted to say that these instances reaffirm the traditional soteriology of a substantial “progressing soul”. Taking conceptual metaphor analysis as a tool, I will, in contrast, argue that there is a special Buddhist use of this metaphor. Indeed, at first sight, it seems to presuppose a non-Buddhist understanding (the “self” as charioteer; the chariot as vehicle to liberation, etc.). Yet, it will be argued that in these cases the chariot imagery is no longer fully “functional”. The Buddhist usage may, therefore, best be described as a final allegorical phase of the chariot-imagery, which results in a thorough deconstruction of the “chariot” itself.

Four years follow-up after clavicle reconstruction in a child: a case report.

Clavicle reconstruction is a rare operation. In most cases a mid-shaft defect of the clavicle is bridged by using different grafting techniques or musculo-osteous flaps. In some clinical situations where reconstruction is not a suitable option claviculectomy as a salvation procedure has proven to be an acceptable solution. In the paediatric population the challenge of both the cosmetic and the functional result attempting reconstruction of large bone defects is of higher demand. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a successful clavicle reconstruction with a sufficient follow-up using a free vascularised fibula graft in a child. This case provides a technique description, considerations in the paediatric population, an overview of other techniques used, and a long-term follow-up.

Strategy and Circumstance: the Response of American Firms to Japanese Competition in Semiconductors, 1980-1995

The transistor was an American invention, and American firms led the world in semiconductor production and innovation for the first three decades of that industry's existence. In the 1980s, however, Japanese producers began to challenge American dominance. Shrill cries arose from the literature of public policy, warning that the American semiconductor industry would soon share the fate of the lamented American consumer electronics business. Few dissented from the implications: the only hope for salvation would be to adopt Japanese-style public policies and imitate the kinds of capabilities Japanese firms possessed. But the predicted extinction never occurred. Instead, American firms surged back during the 1990s, and it now seems the Japanese who are embattled. This striking American turnaround has gone largely unremarked upon in the public policy literature. And even scholarship in strategic management, which thrives on stories of success instead of stories of failure, has been comparatively silent. Drawing on a more thorough economic history of the worldwide semiconductor industry (Langlois and Steinmueller 1999), this essay attempts to collect some of the lessons for strategy research of the American resurgence. We argue that, although some of the American response did consist in changing or augmenting capabilities, most of the renewed American success is in fact the result not of imitating superior Japanese capabilities but rather of taking good advantage of a set of capabilities developed in the heyday of American dominance. Serendipity played at least as important a role as did strategy.

La presencia de San Juan en Ireneo de Lyon

The apostle St. John impacted on Irenaeus through Policarpus from Smyrna. It is possible to track down distinctive aspects of the fourth Evangelist’s though by researching the work of the Bishop of Lyon, mainly in reference to his emphasis on the incarnation and on hissoteriology, which emphasises the individual relationship between the believer and God. We attempt to trace similarities between the Lugdunensis’s deep realism and that of the one which is considered by the tradition as the last eyewitness of the incarnated Verb. We will start from an analysis of the historical bond which links Irenaeus to John, and follow some of the main lines of his writings.

La figura de Orestes como "Semilla de la Salvación" en Coéforas de Esquilo

En el presente trabajo llevaremos a cabo el análisis de la figura de Orestes como "Semilla de la Salvación" a lo largo de toda la obra desde la perspectiva suministrada por la mirada de Electra y por las palabras del coro. Ya que el personaje de Orestes brinda nombre a la trilogía nos proponemos demostrar que es en la tragedia intermedia, Coéforas, en donde es presentado como un "salvador impulsado por la divinidad". Para tal fin, analizaremos especialmente cómo esta figura resulta comparada con distintos personajes míticos como Altea y Escila (vv. 605), Hermes (vv. 811) y Perseo (vv. 831)

Reflexión : punto de partida para la anti naturalización

Las cuestiones y doctrinas científicas estudiadas deben servir de instrumentos para el análisis y la reflexión, nunca constituir fines en sí mismos, ni doctrinas de salvación (no se adhiere a una teoría como a una religión). La lectura de Morgenthau o Aron, Rosencrance o Kaplan, Keohane o Kratochwill por citar algunos, debe permitir "ver" mejor, ya sea aspectos de la práctica científica, ya sean sus dimensiones éticas o políticas. Ello porque pasa de las cuestiones epistemológicas a las ético-políticas, y viceversa, casi sin solución de continuidad. El propósito de este artículo es reflexionar sobre ciertos supuestos que han naturalizado el conocimiento en las Relaciones Internacionales.

Nec Substantiam sed Culpam : El cervantismoalegórico de Alicia Parodi y el caso del Licenciado Vidriera

Alicia Parodi encuentra en el sentido alegórico de Cervantes la historia de la salvación. Su crítica se define como alegórica. No obstante, el interés y la preocupación por la crítica textual está presente en todos sus textos.

Nec Substantiam sed Culpam : El cervantismoalegórico de Alicia Parodi y el caso del Licenciado Vidriera

Alicia Parodi encuentra en el sentido alegórico de Cervantes la historia de la salvación. Su crítica se define como alegórica. No obstante, el interés y la preocupación por la crítica textual está presente en todos sus textos.

La figura de Orestes como "Semilla de la Salvación" en Coéforas de Esquilo

En el presente trabajo llevaremos a cabo el análisis de la figura de Orestes como "Semilla de la Salvación" a lo largo de toda la obra desde la perspectiva suministrada por la mirada de Electra y por las palabras del coro. Ya que el personaje de Orestes brinda nombre a la trilogía nos proponemos demostrar que es en la tragedia intermedia, Coéforas, en donde es presentado como un "salvador impulsado por la divinidad". Para tal fin, analizaremos especialmente cómo esta figura resulta comparada con distintos personajes míticos como Altea y Escila (vv. 605), Hermes (vv. 811) y Perseo (vv. 831)

Reflexión : punto de partida para la anti naturalización

Las cuestiones y doctrinas científicas estudiadas deben servir de instrumentos para el análisis y la reflexión, nunca constituir fines en sí mismos, ni doctrinas de salvación (no se adhiere a una teoría como a una religión). La lectura de Morgenthau o Aron, Rosencrance o Kaplan, Keohane o Kratochwill por citar algunos, debe permitir "ver" mejor, ya sea aspectos de la práctica científica, ya sean sus dimensiones éticas o políticas. Ello porque pasa de las cuestiones epistemológicas a las ético-políticas, y viceversa, casi sin solución de continuidad. El propósito de este artículo es reflexionar sobre ciertos supuestos que han naturalizado el conocimiento en las Relaciones Internacionales.

Nec Substantiam sed Culpam : El cervantismoalegórico de Alicia Parodi y el caso del Licenciado Vidriera

Alicia Parodi encuentra en el sentido alegórico de Cervantes la historia de la salvación. Su crítica se define como alegórica. No obstante, el interés y la preocupación por la crítica textual está presente en todos sus textos.