ILEX 13

Here is the full documentary The Corporation (2003). You must bring the answers on Saturday to the questions listed below:

1. According to the film, the standard metaphor for a corporation is that of an apple within a barrel where most apples are good and just a few bad. Several CEO’s offered alternative metaphors, such as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, a sports team, family unity, a telephone system, or an eagle. Less flattering metaphors are that of a devouring monster, a whale, or the Frankenstein monster. Are any of these metaphors more appropriate than others? 

2. The movie opens indicating that the world dominance of corporations is a recent historical phenomenon, and in some ways has replaced the power of monarchies, the church, and other governing social institutions. If there will always be dominating, self-serving institutions, why is corporate rule today any worse than the alternatives?

3. Original 19th century corporations were limited in their tasks, shareholders were liable, and many had a finite lifespan. How would this limit the negative impact of corporations on society?

4. Constraints on corporations were lifted after the Civil War when the 14th amendment to the constitution extended the legal rights of persons to corporations. What if anything was so bad about this change?

5. One person stated that corporations “have no soul to save, no body to incarcerate.” What does this mean?

6. The notion of “externalities” is that corporations pass on problems and expenses to the public or taxpayers. What are some examples of this?

7. The film lists several features of psychopathic personality disorder and notes how they apply to corporations. These include the following: (1) callous unconcern for the feelings of others, (2) incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, (3) reckless disregard for the safety of others, (4) deceitfulness: repeated lying and conning others for profit, (5) incapacity to experience guilt, (6) failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors. Are any of these exaggerations regarding the true nature of corporations?

See you in class!

Dear all, here you can find a video where the relation between color vision and language is discussed. The connections are puzzling.

During the first session of the course we dealt with the issue of tardiness. Here is a text that suggests some possible strategies everybody could implement to become punctual. Please read it thoroughly before doing the task.

For the actual task you will have to watch this short video about good timekeeping. When you have watched it, click here and read the questions [I know, course 13-06 is not an option — my bad — please select 13-02 (Saturday course)]. Watch the video again and look for the answers to the questions. When you feel confident you know the answers complete the quiz and hit «submit».

☠ Deadline: Friday 24th of April, 23.59 h.

Cheers!

Prof. Philip Zimbardo's conference about time perception across cultures, The Powers of Time, here illustrated by the Cognitive Media folks.

You can claim the New Headway Advanced book in the Jorge Roa Library this coming Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 of April from 8.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The book is a fundamental resource for the course, so please bring it next class.