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
POL4723	Philosophy of Social Sciences	Spring	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 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.
12)	To be able to criticize any subject in business and academic life and to be able to express their thoughts.