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Course Code: 
PHIL 620
Course Type: 
Elective
P: 
3
Lab: 
0
Credits: 
3
ECTS: 
20
Course Language: 
English
Course Objectives: 

The aim of this course is to study the main arguments of British empiricists systematically through close reading, focusing on central themes like the nature of human knowledge, personal identity, and freedom.

Course Content: 

An analysis of the texts of William of Ockham, Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, George Berkeley and David Hume; an inquiry into empiricism in realtion to epistemology, ontology, ethics and the philosophy of religion.

Teaching Methods: 
Teaching Methods: 1: Lecture, 2: Interactive Lecture, 3: Seminar Discussion, 4: Assignment
Assessment Methods: 
Assessment Methods: A: Testing, B: Seminar, C: Assignment, D: Presentation, E: Term Paper

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course a student:

Program Learning Outcomes

Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods

1) conceives the main arguments of the empiricist tradition.

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

2) compares empiricist accounts of human knowledge in a detailed way.

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

3) discusses the inner consistency of the arguments of Locke, Berkeley and Hume on various questions.

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

4) assesses the major discussions about the existence of the external world and personal identity within the context of the empiricist tradition.

 

 

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

5) distinguishes the problems of the ways of inquiry and analysis contributed to philosophy by the empiricist attitude.

1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT

Week

Topics

Study Materials

1

Introduction: Major questions of the empiricist tradition

-

2

Locke on innate ideas

Essay

3

Locke on primary and secondary qualities

Essay

4

Locke on substance, natural kinds, mind and body

Essay

5

Locke on knowledge and the external world

Essay

6

Berkeley on abstract general ideas

Principles

7

Berkeley’s idealism and its critics

Principles

8

Hume on impressions, ideas and their association

Enquiry

9

Hume’s scepticism

Enquiry

10

Hume on causation

Enquiry

11

Hume on miracles

Enquiry

12

Hume on liberty and necessity

Enquiry

13

Reid’s reply to the sceptical attitude

Inquiry and Essays

14

Locke, Butler, Reid on personal identity

Essay

15

Hume on personal identity

Treatise, Enquiry

16

General assessment: The legacy of empiricism

-

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

Textbook

 

Additional Resources

John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. P. Nidditch, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1975.

George Berkeley, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, ed. J. Dancy, Oxford:Oxford University Press, 1998.

David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature, eds. D. and M. Norton, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, ed. T. Beauchamp, Oxford:Oxford University Press, 1999.

Thomas Reid, Inquiry and Essays, eds. R. Beanblossom and K. Lehrer, Indianapolis: Hackett, 1983.

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING

Documents

 

Assignments

 

Exams

 

Assessment

ASSESSMENT

IN-TERM STUDIES

NUMBER

PERCENTAGE

Participation in seminar discussions

1

10

Presentation

1

20

Critical reading notes

3

30

Final Paper

1

40

Total

 

100

CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER TO OVERALL GRADE

 

40

CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE

 

60

Total

 

100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAM

No

Program Learning Outcomes

Contribution

1

2

3

4

5

 

1

acquires fundamental conceptual and methodological knowledge to use productively and creatively in academic studies.

       

X

 

2

improves a versatile critical and analytical approach, problem-solving,  interpretative and argumentative skills  in relation to  advanced philosophical investigations.

     

X

   

3

proves to be a philosopher with principles, who communicates effectively, is specifically successful in written and oral presentation, has proper capacities for teamwork and interdisciplinary studies, takes the initiative, has developed a sense of responsibility, and contributes original ideas to the field of philosophy.

   

X

     

4

applies life-long learning attitude to various ways of acquiring knowledge in order to maintain a professional and personal  development.

   

X

     

5

develops a consciousness of professional and social ethics.

   

X

     

6

acquires the necessary skill of choosing and developing actual means and using computing technologies effectively for a philosophical study .

     

X

   

7

conducts an advanced study in history of philosophy which requires expertise, independently by using original texts.

     

X

   

8

applies philosophical knowledge to questions concerning contemporary, socio-cultural and political problematics.

       

X

 

9

considers universal values and concepts of philosophy as a basis for [furthering] philosophical studies in Turkey; and is able to develop an approach  to study and analyse issues that might arise when conducting discussions concerning history of philosophy in the Turkish language.

     

X

   

10

acquires the skill and background for making contributions to the field of history of philosophy, in national and international terms.

       

X

 

11

uses his/her philosophical knowledge to establish interactions at national and international level.

     

X

   

12

produces work of the quality of a contribution in national and international peer-reviewed journals in philosophy.

       

X

 

13

holds the necessary knowledge of classical languages, a modern language in addition to English and history of philosophy to conduct an advanced philosophical study particularly in history of philosophy.

     

X

   

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION

Activities

Quantity

Duration
(Hour)

Total
Workload
(Hour)

Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16 x Total course hours)

16

6

96

Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)

15

10

150

Presentation

2

20

40

Critical reading notes

1

30

30

Final Paper

5

30

150

Total Work Load

1

60

60

Total Work Load / 25 (h)

 

 

526

ECTS Credit of the Course

 

 

20,92