PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND CRITICAL THINKING

SOC401

Course Code: SOC401
Semester: Seventh Term (Fall)
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 5

Course Type

Compulsory Course

Course Level

Bachelor's Degree

Year of Study

Semester

Seventh Term (Fall)

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Professor Harun Tepe

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Can demarcate scientific disciplines from non-scientific disciplines (e.g., philosophy, astrology...etc.) according to a criterion of scientificness.
Can evaluate the history of science from a critical viewpoint (i.e., as a continiuous or discontinuous enterprise).
Can interpret science?s claim for objectivity and the embeddedness of scientific activity in socio-political structures.
Can describe the similarities and differences between natural sciences and human/social sciences.
Can interpret scientific practice on theoretical (metaphysical/philosophical) ground laid out by the discussions on necessity, regularity, causation, etc.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

Course Description

The course is on the philosophical issues related with how science works, and on the relation of science with other disciplines of knowledge. After the discussions on the ideas developed by the logical positivists, Popper and Kuhn follows the debates on scientific realism. Moreover, some topics in the philosophy of social sciences are also covered (social ontology, social constructivism, naturalism, interpretivism, relativism).

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Introduction of philosophy of science
2^nd Week	Positivism
3^rd Week	Logical positivist
4^th Week	Popper and demarcation
5^th Week	Reasoning and reality
6^th Week	Naturalism
7^th Week	Midterm
8^th Week	Critical theory-I
9^th Week	Critical theory -II
10^th Week	Ideology and science: Habermas-I
11^th Week	Ideology and science: Habermas- II
12^th Week	Feminist ideology in the philosophy of science
13^th Week	Philosophy of contemporary social sciences-I
14^th Week	Philosophy of contemporary social sciences-II
15^th Week	General assessment

Recommended or Required Reading

*Kuhn,Thomas 2006. Bilimsel Devrimlerin Yapısı. Kırmızı Yayınları.İstanbul.
*Fay, Braian.1996. Çağdaş Sosyal Bilimler Felsefesi. Ayrıntı Yayınları. İstanbul
*Yıldırım, Cemal.2005. Bilim Felsefesi. Remzi Kitapevi. İstanbul.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Discussion
Questions/Answers

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	30
Assignment	2	20
Total(%)		50
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		50
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		50
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	10	10
Preparation for Quiz	0	0	0
Individual or group work	0	0	0
Preparation for Final exam	1	50	50
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	40	40
Laboratory (including preparation)	0	0	0
Final exam	1	10	10
Homework	0	0	0
Total Work Load			152
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			5.06
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4	LO5
K1		X
K2
K3	X	X			X
K4				X
K5				X
K6
K7			X
K8	X				X
K9
K10
K11			X
K12