POL4723 Philosophy of Social SciencesBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
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) Setting up various spaces in national and international contexts, carrying out designs, planning and applications that could satisfy various user groups and respond various requirements in the field of Interior Architecture,
2) Analyzing the information gathered from the framework of actual physical, social and economical constraints and user requirements, and synthesizing these with diverse knowledge and considerations in order to create innovative spatial solutions,
3) Generating creative, innovative, aesthetic and unique spatial solutions by using tangible and abstract concepts,
4) Using at least one of the illustration and presentation technologies competently, that the field of interior architecture requires,
5) Reporting, presenting and transferring the design, practice and research studies to the specialists or laymen by using visual, textual or oral communication methods, efficiently and accurately,
6) Embracing and prioritizing man-environment relationships, user health, safety and security, and universal design principles in the field of interior architecture,
7) Design understanding and decision making that respects social and cultural rights of the society, cultural heritage and nature,
8) Being aware of national and international values, following developments and being equipped about ethical and aesthetical subjects in the fields of interior architecture, design and art,
9) Having absolute conscious about legal regulations, standards and principles; and realizing professional ethics, duties and responsibilities in the field of Interior Architecture,