POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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
Spring
 3 0 3 6
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
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 Outputs

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: 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
Laboratory % 0
Application % 0
Field Work % 0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes % 0
Homework Assignments % 0
Presentation 1 % 10
Project % 0
Seminar % 0
Midterms 2 % 40
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 40
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
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
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 12 102
Presentations / Seminar 1 0.5
Project
Homework Assignments
Quizzes
Preliminary Jury
Midterms 2 6
Paper Submission
Jury
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) Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice.
2) Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies.
3) Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences.
4) Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments.
5) Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy.
6) Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member.
7) Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development.
8) Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies.
9) Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives.
10) Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments.
11) Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era.
12) Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics.