FACULTY OF BUSINESS

Department of Political Science and International Relations

PSIR 215 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name
History of Political Thought
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
PSIR 215
Fall
3
0
3
5

Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Required
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery Blended
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course -
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s)
Course Objectives The purpose of this course is twofold: to introduce students to the fundamental questions of political philosophy and to encourage them to consider political problems from a critical perspective.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • to compare and evaluate core ideas in the history of political thought from ancient Greece to the early modern period
  • to interpret seminal texts in political theory in relation to their historical contexts
  • to think critically and creatively about key ethical and political questions
  • to explain and assess such fundamental concepts as justice, freedom, democracy, citizenship, and human rights
  • to apply historical political thinking to contemporary public debates
Course Description The course will take the form of an intensive, analytical reading of some of the seminal texts of European political philosophy. Among the thinkers to be studied are Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Locke. The key concepts to be investigated are justice, citizenship, freedom, power, sovereignty, state and legitimacy. The term will end with a brief look at the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen and the American Declaration of Independence.

 



Course Category

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

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Related Preparation
1 Introduction to the course: What is political philosophy? What is politics? What is democracy?
2 Socratic Irony and Socratic Citizenship: The trial and defence of Socrates Plato, Apology
3 What is justice? Plato, Republic (Books 1 & 2)
4 Who should rule? Plato, Republic (Books 3, 4)
5 What is the purpose of politics? Plato, Republic (Book 5)
6 What is citizenship? Aristotle, Politics (Books I-III)
7 What is the best form of government? Aristotle, Politics (Books IV, VI, VII)
8 Midterm Exam - I
9 The Art of Ruling Machiavelli, Prince (Chapters I-XI)
10 The Art of Ruling Machiavelli, Prince (Chapters XII-XXVI)
11 What is the proper scope of the state? Hobbes, Leviathan (Chapters XIII-XVI)
12 What is the proper scope of the state? Hobbes, Leviathan (Chapters XVII-XXI)
13 Midterm Exam - II
14 What is freedom? Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Chapters 1-5, 7-10)
15 What is freedom? Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Chapters 11-14, 19)
16 Final Exam

 

Course Notes/Textbooks

Required Texts

1. Plato, Apology

2. Plato, Republic (Books 1-6) (Cambridge University Press, 2000).

3. Aristotle, Politics (Book I; Book II, ch 1-5; Book III, ch 1-14; Book IV, ch 1-14; Book VI, ch 1-5; Book VII; Book VIII) (Cambridge University Press, 1996).

4. Machiavelli, Prince (Cambridge University Press, 1988).

5. Hobbes, Leviathan (Chapters XIII-XXI) (Cambridge University Press).

6. Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Chapters 1-5, 7-14, 19).

*All required texts are available at the University Bookstore, except Apology, Leviathan and Locke’s Second Treatise. A copy of these writings will be available for purchase at Ekonomik Kirtasiye. All required texts, including references below, are also available at the University Library.

References

1. David Boucher and Paul Kelly, Political Thinkers (Oxford Univerrsity Press, 2003).

 

Further Required Readings

1. Herman Melville, Billy Budd, İstanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.

2. The American Declaration of Independence (1776)

3. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)

4. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Suggested Readings/Materials

References 

1. Janet Coleman, History of Political Thought (Blackwell, 2000). 

2. Iain Hampsher-Monk, AHistory of Modern Political Thought (Blackwell, 1992). 

3. Leo Strauss and Joseph Cropsey, History of Political PhilosophyUniversity of Chicago Press, 1987. 

4. David Miller, Janet Coleman, William Connolly and Alan Ryan (ed), The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought (Blackwell, 1987).

 

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
1
20
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
2
50
Final Exam
1
30
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
Theoretical Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)
16
0
Study Hours Out of Class
12
3
36
Field Work
0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
0
Portfolio
0
Homework / Assignments
1
10
10
Presentation / Jury
0
Project
0
Seminar / Workshop
0
Oral Exam
0
Midterms
2
20
40
Final Exam
1
16
16
    Total
150

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

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

To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

X
2

To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

3

To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.

X
4

To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop solutions based on research.

5

To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.

X
6

To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.

7

To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.

8

To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

X
9

To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.

X
10

To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.

X
11

To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues 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 human history to their field of experience.

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

 


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