Course Language:
İngilizce
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the classical texts and themes of political thought.
Course Content:
The course concentrates upon the ideas and approaches of great thinkers in order to provide a theoretical framework for grasping the concepts related to political thought.
Course Methodology:
1: Lecture, 2: Discussion, 6: Group work, 8: Oral presentation/exam,
Course Evaluation Methods:
A: Exam, B: Experiment, C: Homework, D: Discussion
Vertical Tabs
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcomes |
Program
Learning Outcomes |
Teaching Methods | Assessment Methods |
| Students will identify the main issues of political thought. | 1 | 1,2,6,8 | A,C |
| Students will classify theories on the main topics of political science such as justice, society and state. | 1 | 1,2 | A |
| Students will be able to analyze different discussions of state-society relationship. | 1 | 1,2 | A,D |
| Students will be able to compare visions of different eras such as the Antiquity and the Enlightenment. | 11 | 1,2 | A,D |
| Students shall be able to evaluate the evolution of political thought on human nature. | 1 | 1,2 | A,D |
| Students shall be able to assess theories of state formation. | 1,2 | 1,2 | A,D |
Course Flow
| COURSE CONTENT | ||
| Week | Topics | Study Materials |
| 1 | Meeting and introduction of the course. | |
| 2 | Ancient Greek Political System and Thought I: Plato The Republic | Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 3 |
Ancient Greek Political System and Thought II
Aristotle Politics |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 4 |
Medieval Islamic Philosophy
Ibn Khaldun The Muqaddimah |
Related sections of The Muqaddimah |
| 5 |
Christian Philosophy
St. Augustine City of God Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 6 |
Assessment of the influence of Ancient Greeks on Christian and Islamic philosophy.
Discussion of ‘ideal state’ |
|
| 7 | Midterm Exam | |
| 8 |
Renaissance I
Machiavelli The Prince |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 9 |
Renaissance II
Thomas Hobbes Leviathan |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 10 |
Enlightenment I
John Locke Two Treatises of Government |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 11 |
Enlightenment II
Jean Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 12 |
Discussion of Social Contract Theories
Comparison of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 13 |
Industrialisation and the Modern Era I
John Stuart Mill On Liberty |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 14 |
Industrialisation and the Modern Era II
Karl Marx & Friedrick Engels The Communist Manifesto |
Related sections of Ebenstein & Ebenstein |
| 15 | Concluding discussions | |
Recommended Sources
| RECOMMENDED SOURCES | |
| Textbook | Ebenstein, W.; Ebenstein, A. (2000) (6th ed.) Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the Present, US: Wadsworth. |
| Additional Resources |
Haldun, Ibn (2009) (6th ed.) Mukaddime: 1, İstanbul: Dergâh Yayınları
Tunçay, M. (2008) (2nd ed.) Batı’da Siyasal Düşünceler Tarihi, Istanbul: Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları (Relevant parts of the three volumes). Sabine, G. (1973) A History of Political Theory, Illinois: Dreyden Press. |
Material Sharing
| MATERIAL SHARING | |
| Documents | |
| Assignments | Group presentation on one of the political philisophers covered in the course content. |
| Exams | Midterm and final essays taken in the classroom |
Assessment
| ASSESSMENT | ||
| IN-TERM STUDIES | NUMBER | PERCENTAGE |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 40 |
| Participation and Presentations | 1 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE | 50 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Course’s Contribution to Program
| COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM | ||||||||
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||
| 1 | Students will demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of Political Science and International Relations as well as other related disciplines such as Law, Economics and Sociology. | X | ||||||
| 2 | Students will interpret the structure, institutions and operation of national, international and supranational entities via utilization of the concepts and theories of Political Science and International relations and produce project reports that include possible solutions to problems of such institutions when necessary. | X | ||||||
| 3 | Students will demonstrate that they have developed a comparative, analytical and interdisciplinary approach vis-à-vis human societies and political systems. | X | ||||||
| 4 | Students will have improved their skills and awareness of personal responsibility and team membership through conducting group or independent research projects, doing internships and producing their graduation dissertations. | X | ||||||
| 5 | Students will demonsrate proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collections methods. | X | ||||||
| 6 | Students will prove their understanding of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires constant self-assessment, life-long learning, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to maintain their personal and professional development. | X | ||||||
| 7 | Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in political science, assess self-competency and direct self-learning efforts accordingly. | X | ||||||
| 8 | Students will implement written and oral communication skills in English and Turkish in both academic and professional settings. | X | ||||||
| 9 | Students should be able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of written, oral and reading skills in English both in international institutional settings and follow and interpret the global dynamics of the International Relations discipline. | X | ||||||
| 10 | Students will demonstrate their social skills and experience required by public or private institutions or in the academia. | X | ||||||
| 11 | Students will show empathy and respect towards societies other than one’s own. | X | ||||||
| 12 | Students should be able to effectively utilize computer and information technologies commonly-used in the social sciences. | X | ||||||
| 13 | Students will interpret domestic and international developments and express opinions, having acquired advanced knowledge and proficiency in the via communication with international scholars and students. | X | ||||||
| 14 | Students will respect personal, social and academic ethical norms. | X | ||||||
| 15 | Students should understand the personal, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility, and show duties of active and global citizenship. | X | ||||||
| 16 | Students should know that universality of social-political and legal rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society, and that scientific thinking is an essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness. | 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: 16x Total course hours) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Homework | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Final examination | 1 | 38 | 38 |
| Total Work Load | 150 | ||
| Total Work Load / 25 (h) | 6 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 6 | ||
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