PHIL115 INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY

Course Code:2410115
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:5.0
Department:Philosophy
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Undergraduate
Course Coordinator:Lecturer Dr. EMRE KARATEKELİ
Offered Semester:Fall and Spring Semesters.

Course Objectives

Students become furnished with the fundamental philosophical approaches throughout the history of Philosophy. (from the ancient times well into the 20th. century)  

They develop critical thinking and comparison and contrast skills concerning the different trends in Philosophy.

They become familiar with the philosophical systems and methods of philosophers standing in the foreground.


Course Content

This course purports to introduce students to the views of the most important figures in the history of western philosophy. It starts with the ancient period including basically the most important ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. After a short overview of the medieval philosophy, the course continues with the modern period. This period includes continental rationalists, such as Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz on the one hand, and British empiricists like Locke, Berkeley, and Hume on the other. It ends with expounding the most basic views of Kant who is supposed to have synthesized rationalism and empiricism. The last part of the course is devoted to the contemporary period including figures from the continental Europe such as Husserl and Heidegger as well as those belonging to the analytic school such as Russell, Wittgenstein, and Quine.


Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the term, the students will have

*received fundamental knowledge about the course that Philosophy followed through history

*gained discussion skills using critical thinking in Philosophy


Program Outcomes Matrix

Level of Contribution
#Program Outcomes0123
1Have the knowledge and skills of research method which is a requirement in order to be successful in academic studies.
2Have the capacity for applying philosophical knowledge to scientific and social issues.
3Examine and analyze a subject matter and make philosophical interpretations on it.
4Have the skills of critical thinking, analytical approach, problem solving, multi-dimensional view, making inferences and interpretations regarding to philosophical texts and scientific facts.
5Identify the basic concepts and issues in philosophy.
6Evaluate and understand the underlying philosophical assumptions of fundamental and social sciences.
7Have capacity to make interdisciplinary readings and analysis.
8Have verbal and written presentation and effective communication skills, be open to team work and do interdisciplinary study.
9Make connections between contemporary ethical, social, cultural, esthetic and politic issues.
10Interpret the historical development of scientific and philosophical questions.
11Have knowledge about contemporary philosophical issues and their relations to other disciplines.
12Use modern information tools in order to make research in philosophy.
13Improve their professional and personal skills lifelong.
14Use information technologies effectively in domain applications in philosophy.
15Have self-confidence and develop original ideas regarding to philosophy.
16Have social and ethical responsibility regarding to contemporary issues.
17Have good knowledge of English, research method and computer skills and use these skills effectively.
18Comprehend the basic theories and issues in sub-disciplines of philosophy.
19Have an advanced knowledge in certain specific fields such as environment, technology, culture, art etc.

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution