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Course Code: 
PHIL 622
Course Type: 
Elective
P: 
3
Lab: 
0
Credits: 
3
ECTS: 
20
Course Language: 
English
Course Objectives: 

The aim of this course is to compare the empiricist and rationalist views on the nature and origin of knowledge through reading fundamental texts and assess their contribution to the main lines of philosophical inquiry.

Course Content: 

A comparison of the philosophies of Plato, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant, Aristotle, Epicurus, Locke, Berkeley and Hume within the framework of rationalism and empiricism;an inquiry into the similarities and differences between these two philosophies.

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) grasps the differences between the empiricist and rationalist attitudes in detail.

 

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

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

2) compares the arguments of the empiricist and rationalist attitudes concerning human knowledge.

 

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

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

3) assesses the implications of empiricist and rationalist acoounts of knowledge for other areas of philosophy.

 

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

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

4) specializes in the fundamental texts of empiricist and rationalist philosophers.

 

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

1, 2, 3, 4

B, C, D, E

5) discusses empiricism’s and rationalism’s implications for and contributions to current philosophical questions.

 

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: The roots and problems of the empiricist-rationalist dispute

-

2

The Locke-Leibniz discussion: the context

Essay, New Essays

3

The Locke-Leibniz discussion: main lines of argument

Essay, New Essays

4

The Locke-Leibniz discussion: implications

Essay, New Essays

5

Descartes: radical rationalism

Discourse, Meditations

6

The Cartesian project from its roots to the present

Discourse, Meditations

7

Two ways of modern philosophy: 1. From Spinoza to Hegel

Ethics, Phenomenology

8

Two ways of modern philosophy: 1. From Spinoza to Hegel

Ethics, Phenomenology

9

Two ways of modern philosophy: 2. Berkeley and Hume

Enquiry, Principles

10

Two ways of modern philosophy: 2. Berkeley and Hume

Enquiry, Principles

11

The problems of modern philosophy: Cogito, personal identity, substance, mind, causality and freedom

Relevant chapters

12

The problems of modern philosophy: Cogito, personal identity, substance, mind, causality and freedom

Relevant chapters

13

Kant’s critical project

CPR

14

Kant’s critique of empiricism and rationalism

CPR

15

The problems of modern philosophy after Kant

CPR

16

In retrospect: The present significance of the empiricism-rationalism dispute

-

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES

Textbook

 

Additional Resources

R. Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, any edition.

R. Descartes, Discourse on Method, any edition.

B. Spinoza, Ethics, any edition.

G. W. Leibniz, New Essays on Human Understanding, trans. Peter Remnant and Jonathan Bennett. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

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

Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, P. Guyer, A. Wood (eds.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING

Documents

 

Assignments

 

Exams

 

Assessment

ASSESSMENT

IN-TERM STUDIES

NUMBER

PERCENTAGE

Critical reading notes

6

60

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

10

160

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

15

11

165

Critical reading notes

6

15

120

Final Paper

1

60

600

Total Work Load

 

 

505

Total Work Load / 25 (h)

 

 

20,2

ECTS Credit of the Course

 

 

20