COURSE INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION


Course Name
History of Philosophical Thought
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
PSIR 230
Fall
3
0
3
4
Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Required
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery -
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s)
Course Objectives This course aims to introduce students to the main questions and problems investigated in the history of philosophy, from its early beginnings in ancient Greece to the present.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • to explain and assess the main currents of thought in the history of Western philosophy.
  • to compare and contrast the prominent themes and arguments of different schools of thought.
  • to interpret epistemological, ontological and moral implications of rival accounts of human emotions and attitudes such as anger, empathy, care, anxiety, hope, and thoughtlessness as well as of reason, knowledge and scientific method in history of philosophy.
  • to develop their analytical and interpretive skills through a guided reading of key figures in the history of philosophical thought.
  • to apply philosophical arguments of past thinkers to contemporary academic and public debates.
Course Description This course explores a variety of questions and problems about human existence that have been addressed in great depth in the history of Western philosophy. What role do emotions play in human existence? What can we know, and how can we know it? What is the difference between knowledge and mere belief? How is scientific method possible? Can we learn from our past mistakes? What is existence? What is the relevance of some basic human attitudes such as care, hope, irony, thoughtlessness, and anxiety to both individual and collective existence? We will examine these questions and their significance as they appear in different thinkers and schools of thought in the history of Western philosophical tradition.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

 



Course Category

Core Courses
X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Required Materials
1 Introduction
2 Human Emotions Julia Annas, “Humans and Beasts: Understanding Ourselves,” Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000, 1-18.
3 Pleasure and Happiness Julia Annas, “The Happy Life: Ancient and Modern,” Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000, 36-54.
4 Reason and Knowledge Julia Annas, “Reason, Knowledge, and Scepticism,” Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000, 55-74.
5 In-Class Writing
6 Science and Method Nigel Warburton, “Could You Be Dreaming?” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 62-68.
7 Optimism and Pessimism Nigel Warburton, “The Best of All Possible Worlds?” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 93-98.
8 Knowledge, Freedom, Hope Nigel Warburton, “Rose Tinted Reality” & “What if Everyone Did That?” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 110-120.
9 Sympathy as a Moral Sentiment Christopher J. Berry, “Sympathetic Spectators,” Adam Smith: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2019, 29-45.
10 Midterm Exam
11 Irony and Anxiety Nigel Warburton, “Life’s Sacrifices,” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 152-158.
12 Understanding the Human Psyche Nigel Warburton, “Thoughts in Disguise,” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 176-182.
13 What is Existence? Nigel Warburton, “The Anguish of Freedom,” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 196-201.
14 Thoughtlessness and Radical Evil Nigel Warburton, “The Man Who Didn’t Ask Questions,” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 208-213.
15 Concluding Remarks: Machines, Humans, and the Future Nigel Warburton, “Can Computers Think?” A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011, 234-238.
16 Final Exam
Course Notes/Textbooks

Julia Annas, Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN-13: 978-0192853578

Christopher J. Berry, Adam Smith: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2019. ISBN-13: 9780198784456

Nigel Warburton, A Little History of Philosophy, Yale University Press, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0300187793

 

*All course readings are available at the University Library and as open sources.

Suggested Readings/Materials

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
1
30
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterm
1
30
Final Exam
1
40
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
3
70
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
30
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
Study Hours Out of Class
16
2
32
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
1
12
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterms
1
11
Final Exams
1
17
    Total
120

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To have the knowledge of classical and contemporary theories in sociology, and be able to comparatively analyze these theories.

X
2

To have the knowledge of main methodological approaches in sociology as well as social research and data analysis methods.

3

To have knowledge in the fields of general sociology, sociology of institutions, social structure and change, and applied sociology.

4

To be able to determine the appropriate methods in the design of the planning stage and conclusion of a sociological project, individually or as part of a team.

5

To be able to diagnose the social dynamics behind personal problems by using sociological imagination.

6

To be able to define social problems at local, national, and global level, and offer new policies for solutions.

7

To be able to apply commonly-used computer programs for data collection and analysis in sociological research.

8

To be able to develop a socially responsible, scientific and ethical perspective regarding the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.

9

To be able to analyze different aspects of the social world by drawing on the knowledge produced by other disciplines of the social sciences.

X
10

To be able to constantly renew herself/himself professionally by following scientific and technological developments in sociology and social research.

11

To be able to collect sociological data and communicate with sociologists and other social scientists in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).

12

To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.

13

To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to their field of expertise.

X

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest