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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMME COURSE DESCRIPTION

Code Name of the Course Unit Semester In-Class Hours (T+P) Credit ECTS Credit
SOC118 INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY 2 3 3 4

GENERAL INFORMATION

Language of Instruction : English
Level of the Course Unit : BACHELOR'S DEGREE, TYY: + 6.Level, EQF-LLL: 6.Level, QF-EHEA: First Cycle
Type of the Course : Compulsory
Mode of Delivery of the Course Unit -
Coordinator of the Course Unit Prof. NEZİHA MUSAOĞLU
Instructor(s) of the Course Unit
Course Prerequisite No

OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS

Objectives of the Course Unit: At the end of this course, students will be able to recognize the most important arguments of religion, metaphysics, epistemology and morality and analyze, evaluate and criticize these arguments with logical reasoning.
Contents of the Course Unit: Contents of the course include the examination of most effective arguments on the philosophy of religion in Western philosophy (St. Aquinas, Pascal, Plato and Nietzsche); metaphysics (Parmenides, Plato, Berkeley, Epicurus, Sartre); epistemology (Descartes, Gettier, Hume) and moral philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Kant and Mill).

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE UNIT (On successful completion of this course unit, students/learners will or will be able to)

Recognize the most important arguments of Western philosophy about religion, metaphysics, epistemology and moral philosophy.
Question whether these arguments can be derived from the results and precessors or not.
Differentiate valid, coherent and robust reasoning from invalid, inconsistent and inaccurate reasoning.
Interpret the most important arguments of western philosophy.
Interpret moral dilemmas based on philosophical thought experiments and hypothesis.
Discuss with each other in order to better predict and avoid counter-arguments.

WEEKLY COURSE CONTENTS AND STUDY MATERIALS FOR PRELIMINARY & FURTHER STUDY

Week Preparatory Topics(Subjects) Method
1 Reading Discussion on the nature of philosophical arguments Lecture, discussion
2 Reading Philosophy of Religion: Five Evidences of St. Aquinas Lecture, discussion
3 Reading Argument of Word, Onthological argument Lecture, discussion
4 Reading Pascal's gambling, James' desire to believe Lecture, discussion
5 Reading Problem of evil, Defense of free will Lecture, discussion
6 Reading Euthyphron dilemma, Nietzsche’s argument of "God is Dead" Lecture, discussion
7 Reading Metaphysics: Parmenides' rejection of change, Platon's argument of ideas Lecture, discussion
8 - MID-TERM EXAM -
9 Reading Metaphysics: Parmenides' rejection of change, Platon's argument of ideas Lecture, discussion
10 Reading Berkeley's idealism, Epicurus' argument on death, Sartre's argument on freedom Lecture, discussion
11 Reading Epistemology: Descartes's Cogito argument, Gettier problem, Hume's problem of reasoning Lecture, discussion
12 Reading Philosophy of ethics: Platon's State, Aristoteles' argument on function Lecture, discussion
13 Reading Kant's categorical command Lecture, discussion
14 Reading Kant's categorical command Lecture, discussion
15 Reading Mill and utilitarianism Lecture, discussion
16 - FINAL EXAM -
17 - FINAL EXAM -

SOURCE MATERIALS & RECOMMENDED READING

Bruce, M. & Barbone, S. (2017). Batı Felsefesindeki 100 Temel Mesele. Çeviri: Mustafa Topal, İstanbul: İletişim Yayınları.
Platon (2018). Devlet. Çeviri: M. Ali Cimcoz, Sabahattin Eyüboğlu. İstanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
Nietzsche, F. (2010). Ahlakın Soy Kütüğü Üzerine. Çeviri: Turan Erdem. İstanbul: Arya Yayıncılık.
Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2014). Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life. Essex: Pearson.
Dennet, D. (2013). Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking. New York: Norton.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment & Grading of In-Term Activities Number of Activities Degree of Contribution (%) Description
Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5

CONTRIBUTION OF THE COURSE UNIT TO THE PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES

KNOWLEDGE

Theoretical

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Define the basic theoretical, political, economic and administrative theories used in the field of Political Science and International Relations.
3
2
Explain the political history, political ideas, intellectual accumulation of understanding international relations and the way that the history of diplomacy has passed from past to present.
2
3
List the norms of universal law and human rights, the principles of the modern legal system, the names of modern bureaucratic and administrative structures.
2

KNOWLEDGE

Factual

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Explain the Turkish state tradition, the influence of Islam, the accumulation of political thought and its historical background, and compare this accumulation with the current approaches.
1
2
Evaluate the chronological development of relations between political and diplomatic developments and political / diplomatic facts / events / ideas / actors from past to present.
1
3
Analyze the structure and functioning of actors, organizations and organizations that determine international relations.
0

SKILLS

Cognitive

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
In the light of current theoretical debates, apply relevant concepts to current political and international developments.
3
2
Evaluate the Turkish political tradition, developments with the Turkic community.
0
3
Use information on the field when comparing the administrative structures of different countries and their diplomatic traditions.
0

SKILLS

Practical

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Formulate the current political developments, developments and arrangements in international relations in the historical and theoretical accumulation.
3
2
Analyze the functioning of modern political regimes in the light of political and public bureaucratic structures, regulations and developments.
0
3
Examine and analyze current political developments in the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa and the Caucasus in terms of both Turkish political history and international relations discipline.
0

OCCUPATIONAL

Autonomy & Responsibility

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
To conduct a field-specific study individually and to complete it with discipline and responsibility.
2
2
To assume duties and responsibilities in a team work as leader or team member and to fulfil them flawlessly.
3

OCCUPATIONAL

Learning to Learn

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Follow the political and administrative developments in the international political system and the bureaucratic organizations operating in this system.
0
2
Examine the international problems and conflicts, and the problems in the field of administration and politics in detail.
1

OCCUPATIONAL

Communication & Social

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Follow the current developments in the field of Political Science and International Relations and collaborate with leading names in the field.
2
2
Examine and analyze academic resources and the written and oral studies on the political developments in the region and the world, especially in the Middle East.
1
3
Debate in the field of political science and public administration with different target groups in multicultural environments.
4

OCCUPATIONAL

Occupational and/or Vocational

Programme Learning Outcomes Level of Contribution
0 1 2 3 4 5
1
With the current historical and theoretical knowledge of the field, suggest sustainable, organizational and administrative arrangements aimed at meeting specific goals and solving certain problems.
0
2
To follow latest developments in the field and direct personal studies accordingly within the framework of the lifelong learning principle.Using the theoretical, economic, political and managerial knowledge, and produce reports on current developments, conflicts and agreements in geography related to world politics and especially in the Middle East.
0
3
Construct arguments on the current developments in Turkish politics in the light of the laws, regulations, and the important changes in the constitution and administrative law that determine Turkish political life and foreign relations.
0

WORKLOAD & ECTS CREDITS OF THE COURSE UNIT

Workload for Learning & Teaching Activities

Type of the Learning Activites Learning Activities (# of week) Duration (hours, h) Workload (h)
Lecture & In-Class Activities 14 3 42
Preliminary & Further Study 13 1 13
Land Surveying 0 0 0
Group Work 0 0 0
Laboratory 0 0 0
Reading 0 0 0
Assignment (Homework) 0 0 0
Project Work 0 0 0
Seminar 0 0 0
Internship 0 0 0
Technical Visit 0 0 0
Web Based Learning 0 0 0
Implementation/Application/Practice 0 0 0
Practice at a workplace 0 0 0
Occupational Activity 0 0 0
Social Activity 0 0 0
Thesis Work 0 0 0
Field Study 0 0 0
Report Writing 0 0 0
Final Exam 1 1 1
Preparation for the Final Exam 7 4 28
Mid-Term Exam 1 1 1
Preparation for the Mid-Term Exam 5 3 15
Short Exam 0 0 0
Preparation for the Short Exam 0 0 0
TOTAL 41 0 100
Total Workload of the Course Unit 100
Workload (h) / 25.5 3,9
ECTS Credits allocated for the Course Unit 4,0