At the end of this course, the students; 1) understand how and why the ages old efforts to attach a meaning to the world have sometimes been in the form of trying to find "the best", sometimes "the right", sometimes "the most ethical", sometimes "most rational", sometimes "most natural" social order. 2) evaluate whether the knowledge/wisdom in the field of political theory has emerged accumulatively or cyclically. 3) connect the classical discussions, questions and themes to today's political discussions through a reading of original classical texts.
MODE OF DELIVERY
Face to face
PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
No
RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL PROGRAMME COMPONENT
No
COURSE DEFINITION
History of humanity is also the history of the struggle to comprehend and give a meaning to the world. A parallel struggle has been to think, apprehend, imagine and realize the social order that is sometimes called as the most "ideal", "correct", "ethical", "reasonable", "natural" or "appropriate for the God?s will." The main problematic have centered around the question of the link between individual and the society he is living in that is sometimes as small as polis, and sometimes as large as a cosmopolis. This course traces all this struggle from Aristoteles and Plato to J.S. Mill and de Tocqueville, who are important representative of liberal thought that preserve its hegemony today. Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau, as significant representatives of modern state theory, is studied. The discussions on idealism and materialism, that can still be traced in the contemporary political theory, is analysed by focusing on Hegel and Marx. The course proceeds through the primary sources readings.
COURSE CONTENTS
WEEK
TOPICS
1st Week
Introduction to the course, expectations from the students
2nd Week
Plato
3rd Week
Aristoteles
4th Week
Machiavelli
5th Week
Hobbes
6th Week
Locke
7th Week
Rousseau
8th Week
Mid-term exam
9th Week
Kant
10th Week
Hegel
11th Week
Marx
12th Week
JS Mill
13th Week
de Tocqueville
14th Week
Overview
RECOMENDED OR REQUIRED READING
Platon, Devlet, İstanbul: Kaynak Yayınları, 2006.
Aristoteles, Politika, İstanbul: Say Yayınları, 2013.
Machiavelli, Prens, İstanbul: Say Yayınları, 2009.
Machiavelli, Söylevler, İstanbul: Say Yayınları, 2009.
Preston King (ed.), Thomas Hobbes, Critical Assessments, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 4. LOndon and New York: Routledge, 1993.
John Marshall, John Locke: Resistance, Religion, and Responsibility, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.
John Dunn, The Political Thought of John Locke, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1968.
Zev M. Trachtenberg, Making Citizens: Rousseau?s Political Theory of Culture, London and New York: Routledge, 1993.
Gülnur Acar Savran, Sivil Toplum ve Ötesi Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, Ankara: Dipnot, 2013.
Jon Elster, An Introduction to Karl Marx, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
Hannah Arendt, Lectures on Kant?s Philosophy, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1982.
Joseph Losco and Leonard Williams (ed.) Political Theory Classic Writings, Contemporary Views, New York: St. Martin?s Press, 1992.
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Penguin Books, 2003.
PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Lecture,Discussion,Questions/Answers
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
Quantity
Percentage(%)
Mid-term
1
30
Assignment
1
30
Attendance
1
10
Total(%)
60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)
60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)
40
Total(%)
100
ECTS WORKLOAD
Activities
Number
Hours
Workload
Midterm exam
1
48
48
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work
14
3
42
Preparation for Final exam
1
45
45
Course hours
14
3
42
Preparation for Midterm exam
1
30
30
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam
1
72
72
Homework
1
25
25
Total Workload
304
Total Workload / 30
10,13
ECTS Credits of the Course
10
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
Turkish
WORK PLACEMENT(S)
No
KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES (KLO) / MATRIX OF LEARNING OUTCOMES (LO)
