The aim of this course is to compare and discuss various conceptions of nature throughout the history of philosophy as well as the problems of the relations between natural sciences and philosophy of nature.
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Conceptions of the Universe and nature in Aristotle, in Medieval and Modern period; the philosophy of nature in Leibniz and Kant; the philosophy of organism in A.N. Whitehead. The following books will be read: Physics and Metaphysics of Aristotle; Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems of Galileo; Principia Mathematica of Newton; Monadology, New Essays on Human Understanding; Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science of Kant; Process and Reality of Whitehead. |
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Course Learning Outcomes
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Learning Outcomes Upon the completion of this course a student: |
Program Learning Outcomes |
Teaching Methods |
Assessment Methods |
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1) distinguishes changing conceptions of nature. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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2) compares different ideas of nature in historical perspective. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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3) assesses the relations between natural sciences and philosophical analyses. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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4) grasps different theories of natural change, becoming, causality and process. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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5) discusses questions concerning the relationship between humanity and nature. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
Course Flow
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COURSE CONTENT |
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Week |
Topics |
Study Materials |
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1 |
Introduction: What is the meaning of “nature”? |
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2 |
The Presocratic “physis” and Parmenides’ challenge |
Excerpts |
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3 |
From the responses to Parmenides’ challenge to Aristotle’s Physics |
Excerpts, Phaedo, Physics |
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4 |
Aristotle’s Metaphysics and Physics |
Metaphysics, Physics |
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5 |
Aristotle on nature, causality and change |
Physics, On Generation and Corruption |
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6 |
Conceptions of nature in medieval philosophy |
Excerpts |
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7 |
Conceptions of nature in Islamic philosophy |
Excerpts |
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8 |
Midterm |
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9 |
Philosophy and natural sciences in the Renaissance |
Excerpts |
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10 |
Galileo, Descartes and Newton: mathematical principles of the philosophy of nature |
Galileo, Descartes, Newton |
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11 |
The Leibniz-Clarke correspondence: nature, knowledge and theology |
Leibniz-Clarke |
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12 |
Hume’s critique of causality and Kant’s laws of nature |
Excerpts |
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13 |
The idea of nature in the 19th century: Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche |
Excerpts |
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14 |
New physics, new philosophy of nature: Process and Reality |
Whitehead |
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15 |
The Idea of Nature |
Collingwood |
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16 |
Final |
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Recommended Sources
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RECOMMENDED SOURCES |
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Textbook |
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Additional Resources |
A. Whitehead, Process and Reality, Corrected Edition, Griffin, D. and Sherburne, D., Eds. NY: Macmillan, 1978. Aristotle, Metaphysics, any good edition. Aristotle, On Generation and Corruption, any good edition. Aristotle, Physics, any good edition. G. Galilei, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, S. Drake (trans.), Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. G. Galilei, Two New Sciences. S. Drake (trans.), Toronto: Wall and Emerson, 2000. I. Newton, The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy: A New Translation, tr. I. B. Cohen and Anne Whitman, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999. Plato, Phaedo, any good edition. R. Ariew (ed.), G. W. Leibniz and Samuel Clarke. Correspondence, Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000. R. Descartes, Principles of Philosophy, V. R. Miller and R. P. Miller (trans.), Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1983. R. Descartes, The World, M. S. Mahoney (t.), New York: Abaris, 1979. R. G. Collingwood, The Idea of Nature. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1945. |
Material Sharing
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MATERIAL SHARING |
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Documents |
Excerpts from ancient, medieval, Islamic thinkers and from Hume, Kant, Darwin, Marx, and Nietzsche. |
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Assignments |
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Exams |
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Assessment
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ASSESSMENT |
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IN-TERM STUDIES |
NUMBER |
PERCENTAGE |
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Midterm |
1 |
20 |
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Assignments |
2 |
20 |
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Presentation |
1 |
10 |
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Final examination |
1 |
20 |
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Final Paper |
1 |
30 |
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Total |
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100 |
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CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER AND EXAM TO OVERALL GRADE |
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50 |
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CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE |
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50 |
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Total |
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100 |
Course’s Contribution to Program
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COURSE’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRAM |
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No |
Program Learning Outcomes |
Contribution |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
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1 |
acquires fundamental conceptual and methodological knowledge to use productively and creatively in academic studies. |
X |
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2 |
improves a versatile critical and analytical approach, problem-solving, interpretative and argumentative skills in relation to advanced philosophical investigations. |
X |
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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 |
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4 |
applies life-long learning attitude to various ways of acquiring knowledge in order to maintain a professional and personal development. |
X |
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5 |
develops a consciousness of professional and social ethics. |
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X |
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6 |
acquires the necessary skill of choosing and developing actual means and using computing technologies effectively for a philosophical study . |
X |
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7 |
conducts an advanced study in history of philosophy which requires expertise, independently by using original texts. |
X |
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8 |
applies philosophical knowledge to questions concerning contemporary, socio-cultural and political problematics. |
X |
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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 |
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10 |
acquires the skill and background for making contributions to the field of history of philosophy, in national and international terms. |
X |
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11 |
uses his/her philosophical knowledge to establish interactions at national and international level. |
X |
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12 |
produces work of the quality of a contribution in national and international peer-reviewed journals in philosophy. |
X |
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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 |
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ECTS
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ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION |
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Activities |
Quantity |
Duration |
Total |
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Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16 x Total course hours) |
16 |
7 |
112 |
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Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) |
15 |
6 |
90 |
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Midterms |
1 |
60 |
60 |
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Assignments |
2 |
36 |
72 |
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Presentation |
1 |
40 |
40 |
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Final examination |
1 |
60 |
60 |
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Final Paper |
1 |
80 |
80 |
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Total Work Load |
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514 |
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Total Work Load / 25 (h) |
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20,56 |
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ECTS Credit of the Course |
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20 |