POL4723 Philosophy of Social SciencesBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs SOCIOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
SOCIOLOGY
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
POL4723 Philosophy of Social Sciences Fall 3 0 3 6
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: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course is devoted to exploring the political philosophy of Hannah Arendt, one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. The focus is on understanding Arendt’s critique of Western philosophy, with an emphasis on history as a developmental process towards the realization of human freedom. The main themes to be considered are totalitarianism, the rise of modernity, action and public sphere, power and freedom, revolutions, responsibility, and judgment. The first objective of the course is to provide an overview of Arendt’s work. The second objective of the course is to situate Arendt in the larger context of twentieth-century intellectual life and evaluate the contemporary significance of Arendt’s work. For this purpose, Arendt’s contribution to political philosophy and her response to predecessors in the tradition of Western philosophy will be critically examined.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course can;
I. Identify Hannah Arendt’s approach to some fundamental concept of political theory such as totalitarianism, the rise of modernity, action and public sphere, power and freedom, revolutions, responsibility, and judgment.
II. Critically examine the trajectory of her life’s work
III. Discuss the relationship of her work to the larger context of twentieth-century intellectual life
IV. Evaluate the contemporary significance of Arendt’s work.

Course Content

Totalitarianism, the rise of modernity, action and public sphere, power and freedom, revolutions, responsibility, and judgment.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction
2) Hannah Arendt’s Life and Work • Majid Yar, “Hannah Arendt (1906-1975)”, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://www.iep.utm.edu/arendt/, Parts I, 2, and 3.
3) Issues Surrounding the Eichmann Trial • Eichmann in Jerusalem, Chapter 1, 4-12, 17-20
4) Banality of Evil • Eichmann in Jerusalem, 48-55, 136-138, 247-252
5) Banality of Evil II • “Hannah Arendt,” Margarethe von Trotta
6) Midterm
7) Understanding Totalitarianism • The Origins of Totalitarianism, Preface to the First Edition, pp. vii-ix; Chapter 9, pp. 290-302
8) Totalitarianism: Its tools and methods • The Origins of Totalitarianism, Chapter 13, pp.460 – 479
9) Reading the Human Condition • Between Past and Future: Preface, pp.3-15 • The Human Condition, pp. 1-16, 22-33, 50-58 • Maurizio Passerin D’Entreves, “Hannah Arendt”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arendt/, Part 4.
10) Midterm 2
11) Problem of Modernity • The Human Condition, pp. 38-49, 175-204, 294-
12) Revolution • On Revolution, pp.28-35, 47-58, 59-64, 75-77, 124-132.
13) Truth and post-truth • “Truth and Politics”
14) GENERAL EVALUATION

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem
Arendt, The Human Condition
Arendt, On Revolution
Arendt, The origins of Totalitarianism
References: Articles in Course Package

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Presentation 1 % 10
Midterms 2 % 40
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 12 36
Study Hours Out of Class 12 102
Presentations / Seminar 1 0.5
Midterms 2 6
Final 1 3
Total Workload 147.5

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 learn and compare major sociology perspectives, both classical and contemporary, and apply all of them to analysis of social conditions.
2) To be able to identify the basic methodological approaches in building sociological and anthropological knowledge at local and global levels
3) To be able to use theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the fields of statistics in social sciences.
4) To have a basic knowledge of other disciplines (including psychology, history, political science, communication studies and literature) that can contribute to sociology and to be able to make use of this knowledge in analyzing sociological processes
5) To have a knowledge and practice of scientific and ethical principles in collecting, interpreting and publishing sociological data also develop ability how to share this data with experts and lay people, using effective communication skills
6) To develop competence in analyzing and publishing sociological knowledge by using computer software for quantitative and qualitative analysis; and develop an attitute for learning new techniques in these fields.
7) To identify and to have a knowledge of the theories related to urban and rural sociology and demography, and political sociology, sociology of gender, sociology of body, visual sociology, sociology of work, sociology of religion, sociology of knowledge and sociology of crime.
8) To have knowledge of how sociology is positioned as a scientific discipline from a philosophical and historical perspective
9) To have the awareness of social issues in Turkish society, to develop critical perspective in analysing these issues and to have a knowledge of the works of Turkish sociologists and to be able to transfer this knowledge
10) To have the awareness of social issues and global societal processes and to apply sociological analysis to development and social responsibility projects
11) To have the ability to define a research question, design a research project and complete a written report for various fields of sociology, either as an individual or as a team member.
12) To be able to transfer the knowledge gained in the areas of sociology to the level of secondary school.