GEP0811 Readings in PhilosophyBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs PSYCHOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
PSYCHOLOGY
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
GEP0811 Readings in Philosophy Spring 3 0 3 5
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: GE-Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. BURCU ALARSLAN ULUDAŞ
Recommended Optional Program Components: none
Course Objectives: Our main aim in this course is to introduce you to different fields of philosophy. In this regard, we will survey the texts, from different periods in the history of philosophy, which exhibit contrasting styles of philosophical argument in various sub-fields of philosophy, but are linked by a common theme: valuefree/value-laden distinction (The theme can be configured according to the interests and background of the audience in each term). We will attempt to reveal and understand the role assigned to values in different fields and styles of philosophy: moral philosophy, political philosophy, science/biotechnology, analytical and continental philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
Lectures will deliver basic course-specific knowledge, and provide a framework for further study. Tutorials will provide opportunities for you to test your own understanding of the material studies, and defend and debate different opinions. Guided reading will provide a structure within which, you can exercise and extend your abilities to make use of available learning resources.
We will deal with the issues of interpretation and comprehension with an aim of reading thematically related philosophical texts through the tools of critical thinking.

Course Content

Formative essay (counts for 10% of your final mark).
Attendance (10% of your final mark)
One midterm exam on [30.10.2019] (counts for 30% of your final mark).
Summative essay at the end of the year (counts for 50% of your final mark).

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction
2) Who's to Say What's Right and Wrong? Sharvy. R. 2007. Who’s To Say What’s Right or Wrong? People Who Have Ph.D.’s in Philosophy, That’s Who. Journal of Libertartian Studies, 21 (3): 3-24.
3) Values: Objectivity and Subjectivity McConnell, Terrance C. “Objectivity and Moral Expertise,” Canadian Journal of Philosophy XIV (2) (June 1984), pp. 193-207.
4) Identifying Values in Politics I: Plato Plato. 2008. Crito, Oxford World’s Classics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
5) Identifying Values in Politics II: Aristotle Sandel, M. 2010. Justice: What is the Right Thing to Do. Farrar, Straus and Giroux: New York. pp, 98-109
6) Value-neutral Politics I: Utilitarianism? J. Harris. 1975. Survival Lottery. Philosophy 50.
7) MIDTERM
8) Value-neutral Politics II: Machiavelli's Politics Free from Confusion Machiavelli. N. 1992. The Prince. Dover: Dover Publications.
9) Values, Duty and Suicide: Kant Langton R. 1992. Duty and Desolation. Philosophy 67: 481-505.
10) Ethical Perspectives on Biomedical Science: David E. Cooper Cooper. D. E. 2002. The Frankensteinian Nature of Biotechnology. Aldershot: Ashgate.
11) Identifying Values in Science: Social Phenomena Sartre Sartre. J. P. 2007. Existentialism is Humanism. London: Yale University Press
12) Identifying Values in Freedom I: Berlin's Value Free/ValueLaden Conceptions of Freedom Berlin. I. 2002. “Two Concepts of Liberty”, in Liberty ed. H. Hardy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
13) Identifying Values in Freedom II: Heidegger's Existence and Freedom Heidegger. M. 1962. Being and Time. Trans. John Macquarrie and Edward Robinson. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
14) Overview and Feedback

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: You do not need to buy any books for Readings in Philosophy, but you may need to print the reader (primary sources), which I will provide to you weekly via itslearning. Apart from these, as a first port of call on any particular topic, check out the online Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (http://plato.stanford.edu/). The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy is also particularly useful. It is available on-line.
References: You do not need to buy any books for Readings in Philosophy, but you may need to print the reader (primary sources), which I will provide to you weekly via itslearning. Apart from these, as a first port of call on any particular topic, check out the online Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy (http://plato.stanford.edu/). The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy is also particularly useful. It is available on-line.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Total %
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 0
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK %
Total %

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To develop an interest in the human mind and behavior, to be able to evaluate theories using empirical findings, to understand that psychology is an evidence-based science by acquiring critical thinking skills.
2) To gain a biopsychosocial perspective on human behavior. To understand the biological, psychological, and social variables of behavior.
3) To learn the basic concepts in psychology and the theoretical and practical approaches used to study them (e.g. basic observation and interview techniques).
4) To acquire the methods and skills to access and write information using English as the dominant language in the psychological literature, to recognize and apply scientific research and data evaluation techniques (e.g. correlational, experimental, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, case studies).
5) To be against discrimination and prejudice; to have ethical concerns while working in research and practice areas.
6) To recognize the main subfields of psychology (experimental, developmental, clinical, cognitive, social and industrial/organizational psychology) and their related fields of study and specialization.
7) To acquire the skills necessary for analyzing, interpreting and presenting the findings as well as problem posing, hypothesizing and data collection, which are the basic elements of scientific studies.
8) To gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary for psychological assessment and evaluation.
9) To acquire basic knowledge of other disciplines (medicine, genetics, biology, economics, sociology, political science, communication, philosophy, anthropology, literature, law, art, etc.) that will contribute to psychology and to use this knowledge in the understanding and interpretation of psychological processes.
10) To develop sensitivity towards social problems; to take responsibility in activities that benefit the field of psychology and society.
11) To have problem solving skills and to be able to develop the necessary analytical approaches for this. 3
12) To be able to criticize any subject in business and academic life and to be able to express their thoughts. 3