Philosophical Methodology I(PH257)
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credit | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH257 | Philosophical Methodology I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Prerequisites | |
| Admission Requirements |
| Language of Instruction | Turkish |
| Course Type | Compulsory |
| Course Level | Bachelor Degree |
| Course Instructor(s) | İhsan Hayri BATUR ihsanbatur@gmail.com (Email) |
| Assistant | |
| Objective |
-The objective of the Philosophical Methodology 1 course is to provide second-grade philosophy students with an introduction to the fundamental principles and techniques of academic research and philosophical inquiry. The course offers a comprehensive overview of philosophical thought and its unique methodologies, while also challenging the emergence, evolution, and current relevance of philosophy to other forms of knowledge, including religions, ideologies, natural sciences, and artificial intelligence. The nature of philosophy, its function in the evolution of human thought, and its potential future in a scientifically advanced world are among the fundamental metaphysical questions that students will engage with. Simultaneously, the course will equip students with essential tools for academic productivity, critical thinking, and research. Interactive discussions will enable students to investigate effective decision-making and thinking processes, enhance their academic writing and presentation abilities, and acquire the ability to navigate critical components of academic work, including the identification of research gaps, the construction of proposals, and the execution of literature reviews. The objective is to equip students with the necessary skills to engage in more sophisticated research and critical thinking in both philosophy and interdisciplinary disciplines by integrating practical methodologies with philosophical inquiry. Student engagement in presentations, discussions, and peer evaluations is a component of the course. The course is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to engage profoundly with philosophical texts and make meaningful contributions to academic discourse by integrating practical methodological training with philosophical exploration. |
| Content |
-Course Content: The course is structured around two main components: philosophical inquiry and academic methodology. 1. Philosophical Inquiry: * The origins and nature of philosophical thought. * The relationship between philosophy and its methods. * The role of philosophy in the development of human thought. * The historical function of philosophy as an incubator for scientific disciplines. * The future of philosophy. 2. Academic Methodology: * Mindset and Productivity: Developing habits for effective thinking, time management, and academic productivity. * Research Skills: Identifying research gaps, formulating research questions, and designing a research methodology. * Writing and Presentation: Techniques for drafting proposals, academic papers, and delivering effective presentations. * Academic Communication: How to write academic emails, cover letters, CVs, and proposals. * Thesis Process: A guide through the stages of a research, including thesis structure, hypothesis formation, and defense. * Literature Review: How to conduct and structure a thorough literature review. * Scholarly Publishing: Navigating academic journals, peer review, citation practices, and strategies for successful publishing. Throughout the course, students will participate in interactive exercises, peer reviews, and discussions, applying philosophical and methodological insights to their own academic work. |
| Course Learning Outcomes |
Expected Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Philosophical Inquiry and Critical Thinking: * Understand the historical development and distinctiveness of philosophical thought compared to other forms of inquiry. * Critically evaluate the relationship between philosophical methods and the content of philosophy itself. * Analyze the role of philosophy in relation to science and assess whether it still holds relevance in the modern world. * Formulate reasoned responses to key metaphysical questions regarding the evolution, purpose, and future of philosophy. 2. Academic Research and Methodology: * Identify research gaps, develop research questions, and apply appropriate methodologies in philosophical research. * Construct coherent and well-structured academic essays and research papers that adhere to philosophical standards. * Critically review and provide constructive feedback on peers' work through a structured peer-review process. * Demonstrate proficiency in essential academic skills such as effective time management, note-taking, and the use of technological tools for research. 3. Communication and Presentation: * Develop and present clear and well-organized oral presentations on philosophical topics. * Write professional academic correspondence, including emails, cover letters, and proposals. * Navigate the academic publishing process, from writing a paper to submitting it for peer review. 4. Preparation for Advanced Research: * Gain familiarity with the structure and requirements of thesis writing and PhD-level research. * Conduct a thorough literature review, synthesizing relevant academic sources to support research arguments. |
| Teaching and Learning Methods |
Teaching Methods: This course will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures, visual aids, and student participation: 1. Smart Board Presentations:? Lectures will be presented using slides on a smart board, providing clear, structured overviews of key concepts, methodologies, and philosophical arguments. These slides will help guide discussions and offer visual support to complex topics. 2. Charts and Diagrams: ?To enhance understanding of abstract or intricate ideas, charts and diagrams will be used to visually represent philosophical structures, historical progressions, and methodological frameworks. 3. Reading and Article Analysis:? Students will be assigned selected academic articles and primary philosophical texts, which will be analyzed and discussed during class sessions. This will encourage critical reading and help students apply theoretical concepts to real academic research. 4. Class Discussions and Peer Review: ?Interactive discussions will be a core component, encouraging students to engage actively with the material and each other. Peer review exercises will further enhance collaborative learning and critical evaluation skills. These methods aim to foster an interactive, engaging, and visually supported learning environment, combining philosophical inquiry with practical research skills. |
| References |
Sources: This course will draw on a variety of sources, including academic articles, institutional guidelines, and selected readings from established philosophical works. While there will be no single required textbook, the course material will be largely curated and prepared by the instructor to align with the specific topics and objectives of the course. Students will be provided with: * Key articles from academic journals. * Relevant institutional materials (e.g., research guidelines and methodologies). * Custom lecture notes and visual materials prepared by the instructor. All readings and materials will be made available electronically, and students are encouraged to consult additional sources to complement their understanding of the topics discussed. |
Theory Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Philosophical Thought: Introduction to the nature of philosophical inquiry. Differences between philosophical and non-philosophical thought. |
| 2 | Philosophy and Method: Explore whether philosophy is defined by the method it employs. Review historical and contemporary methodologies in philosophy. |
| 3 | The Role of Philosophy in Human Evolution: Is philosophy a necessary stage in human thought? Explore philosophy’s role in the cognitive evolution of humankind. |
| 4 | The Relevance of Philosophy Today: Philosophical relevance post-scientific revolution. Debate on whether philosophical insights from 200 years ago are still valid. |
| 5 | Philosophy as an Incubator for Sciences: Review how fundamental sciences have evolved from philosophy. |
| 6 | Has Philosophy Completed Its Role? Can philosophy be considered obsolete in the age of modern science and AI? |
| 7 | Research Methodologies in Philosophy: Overview of different research methodologies in philosophical studies. |
| 8 | Mindset and Productivity in Research: Discuss productivity habits, decision-making, and self-awareness in philosophical work. |
| 9 | Effective Writing and Study Skills: Introduction to effective academic writing in philosophy. |
| 10 | Literature Review: Understanding the importance of literature reviews and their structure. |
| 11 | Structuring a Research Proposal: How to create a coherent research proposal, covering research questions and objectives. |
| 12 | Academic Presentations: The principles of effective academic presentation and communication. |
| 13 | Peer Review and Academic Critique: How to conduct peer reviews in a constructive, academic manner. |
| 14 | Reflection and Review: Summarize key concepts covered. |
Practice Topics
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | Practical Work: Discussion on early forms of philosophy and its historical emergence. |
| 2 | Practical Work: Case study of Socratic, Cartesian, and Kantian methods. |
| 3 | Practical Work: Group discussion on the continuity and transformation of philosophical thought. |
| 4 | Practical Work: Interactive debate on contemporary relevance using scientific breakthroughs (e.g., AI). |
| 5 | Practical Work: Research and presentation on examples of scientific fields birthed by philosophy (e.g., physics, psychology). |
| 6 | Practical Work: Group essays and peer reviews exploring this question. |
| 7 | Practical Work: Workshop on formulating research questions and identifying research gaps. |
| 8 | Practical Work: Time management and note-taking exercise. |
| 9 | Practical Work: Writing tips and drafting a research outline. |
| 10 | Practical Work: Practical workshop on sourcing and reviewing philosophical texts. |
| 11 | Practical Work: Write a proposal draft and exchange feedback with peers. |
| 12 | Practical Work: Practice presentations on the proposals created in Week 11. |
| 13 | Practical Work: Review and critique peer essays. |
| 14 | Practical Work: Final reflections, Q&A, and preparation for the final exam. |
Contribution to Overall Grade
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 4 | 60 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 40 |
| Toplam | 5 | 100 |
In-Term Studies
| Number | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 2 | 30 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 1 | 20 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 1 | 10 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Toplam | 4 | 60 |
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Analyze philosophical texts with analytical and critical rigor; | X | ||||
| 2 | Get an exhaustive knowledge on the history of philosophy; from antiquity to 20th century; | X | ||||
| 3 | Provide access to information and expertise in the fields of systematic philosophy, such as ethic, esthetic, history of science, philosophy of society; | |||||
| 4 | Establish the relation between philosophy and other fields of knowledge, such as, history, psychology, anthropology, sociology and other positive sciences; | X | ||||
| 5 | Learn the theories of political science and the philosophical evaluation of historical and actual events; | |||||
| 6 | Have a sufficient level of French and English in order to follow philosophical debates; | X | ||||
| 7 | Have a sufficient level of the ancient Greek, Latin and Ottoman languages for reading philosophical texts written in these; | |||||
| 8 | Develop a creative thinking and a knowledge of aesthetic theories which will allow the analysis of artworks and the history of art; | |||||
| 9 | Acquire academic research methods and writing ability as well as to develop analytical skills, interpretation and criticism. | X | ||||
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Assignments | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Presentation | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 1 | 14 | 14 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 100 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 4.00 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 4 | ||