The aim of this course is to analyze and discuss Giambattista Vico’s The New Science as well as his other works in order to emphasize its importance for the philosophical reflection on human history and its contribution to the development of some crucial concepts in political philosophy.
From mythology to reason: Giambattista Vico’s conception of the philosophy of history and the birth of philosophy of history in the West.
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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) grasps Vico’s thought within its historical context. |
1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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2) discusses Vico’s conception of history in its relation ro philosophy and philology. |
1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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3) explains Vico’s methodological arguments in terms of the concepts of “truth”, “certainty”, “generality” and “particularity”. |
1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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4) compares different conceptions of “time” and “history” with the concepts of Vico’s thought. |
1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
A, B, C, D, E |
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5) assesses Vico’s thoughts about history and science within the framework of the methodological questions of the philosophy of history. |
1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
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: Vico within the context of the 18th century |
- |
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2 |
Vico’s itinerary: From philology to philosophy of history |
Vita di G. V. |
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3 |
Vico and the humanistic education |
Le Orazioni Inaugurali |
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4 |
The question of method: Vico against Descartes |
Scienza nuova |
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5 |
The question of method: “the true” and “the certain”; “science” and “consciousness” |
Scienza nuova |
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6 |
Scienza nuova and Scienza nuova seconda |
Scienza nuova, Scienza nuova seconda |
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7 |
Scienza nuova and Scienza nuova seconda |
Scienza nuova, Scienza nuova seconda |
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8 |
Time and history; progress and return |
Scienza nuova seconda |
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9 |
The stages of history in Vico’s thinking |
Scienza nuova seconda |
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10 |
History after Vico: Comparison with German philosophy of history |
Scienza nuova seconda |
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11 |
Vico’s influences in philosophy, philology and literature |
Scienza nuova seconda |
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12 |
Discussion of research papers |
Miscellaneous |
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13 |
Discussion of research papers |
Miscellaneous |
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14 |
Discussion of research papers |
Miscellaneous |
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15 |
Discussion of research papers |
Miscellaneous |
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16 |
General assessment |
- |
Recommended Sources
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RECOMMENDED SOURCES |
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Textbook |
Opera di G.B. Vico, 8 volumes in 11, edited by Fausto Nicolini, Bari: Laterza, 1911–41. |
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Additional Resources |
Le Orazioni Inaugurali (1699–1707), On Humanistic Education (Six Inaugural Orations, 1699–1707), trans. G. A. Pinton and A. Shippee, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1993. Il diritto universale (1720–22), Universal Right, translated by G. Pinton and M. Diehl, Amsterdam, Atlanta: Editions Rodopi B.V., 2000. Scienza nuova (1725), The First New Science, edited and translated by Leon Pompa, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Vita di Giambattista Vico scritta da se medesimo(1725–31), The Autobiography of Giambattista Vico with the Continuation by Villarosa [1818], translated by Max Harold Fisch and Thomas Goddard Bergin, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1944, revised 1963. Scienza nuova seconda (1730/1744), The New Science of Giambattista Vico, revised translation of the third edition by Thomas Goddard Bergin and Max Harold Fisch, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1948; Cornell Paperbacks, 1976. De mente heroica (1732), On The Heroic Mind: An Oration, translated by Elizabeth Sewell and Anthony C. Sirignano, in Vico and Contemporary Thought, ed. Giorgo Tagliacozza, Michael Monney, and Donald Phillip Verene, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey: Humanities Press, 1979. |
Material Sharing
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MATERIAL SHARING |
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Documents |
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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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Presentation |
1 |
20 |
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Critical reading notes |
2 |
20 |
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Final Examination |
1 |
20 |
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Final Paper |
1 |
40 |
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Total |
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100 |
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CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL PAPER TO OVERALL GRADE |
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40 |
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CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE |
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60 |
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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 |
10 |
160 |
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Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) |
15 |
10 |
150 |
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Midterms |
1 |
50 |
50 |
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Assignments |
14 |
5 |
70 |
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Final examination |
1 |
30 |
30 |
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Final Paper |
1 |
40 |
40 |
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Total Work Load |
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500 |
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Total Work Load / 25 (h) |
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20 |
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ECTS Credit of the Course |
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20 |