School/Faculty/Institute | Faculty of Law | ||||
Course Code | HUK 236 | ||||
Course Title in English | Law and Neuroscience | ||||
Course Title in Turkish | Hukuk ve Nörobilim | ||||
Language of Instruction | TR | ||||
Type of Course | Lecture | ||||
Level of Course | Select | ||||
Semester | Fall | ||||
Contact Hours per Week |
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Estimated Student Workload | 62 hours per semester | ||||
Number of Credits | 2 ECTS | ||||
Grading Mode | Standard Letter Grade | ||||
Pre-requisites | None | ||||
Expected Prior Knowledge | None | ||||
Co-requisites | None | ||||
Registration Restrictions | Undergraduate Students Only | ||||
Overall Educational Objective | To make advances in the field of neuroscience usable in terms of legal theory and practice by providing a general level of knowledge about the areas where neuroscience is related to law. | ||||
Course Description | The idea that human beings are endowed with consciousness and free will is one of the presumptions on which modern legal systems rely to define personality. Person, in the legal sense, has to have the ability to act consciously and/or according to his/her free will to bear the responsibility of his/her acts. Nevertheless, the accuracy of a conscious human agency acting with free will has been challenged by neuroscientific research since 1980s. The debate whether or not this challenge will force legal systems to define a new basis for broad legal liability (including criminal responsibility) is at the focus of the course. | ||||
Course Description in Turkish | İnsanların özgür irade sahibi bilinçli canlılar olduğu varsayımı, modern hukuk sistemleri tarafından kişiliğin tanımlanmasında başvurulan temel noktalardan birisidir. Kişinin eylem ve işlemlerinden dolayı hukuken sorumlu tutulabilmesi için, bu eylem ve işlemlerin bilinçli olarak, özgür iradeyle gerçekleştirilmiş olması şartı aranır. Ancak, insanın özgür iradesiyle davranan bilinçli bir canlı olduğu varsayımının geçerliliği nörobilim alanında 1980’lerden bu yana ortaya çıkan gelişmelerle gitigide daha fazla tartışılır bir konu haline gelmiştir. Nörobilimdeki gelişmelerin gelecekte hukuk sistemlerinin sorumluluğu belirlerken başvurdukları temel varsayımı değiştirmek zorunda kalmalarını yol açıp açmayacağı tartışması dersin ana vurgusunu oluşturacaktır. |
Course Learning Outcomes and CompetencesUpon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:1) Having knowledge about the scope and application area of neuroscience 2) Ability to use data obtained through neuroimaging methods in ongoing lawsuits 3) Understand the transformation that advances in neuroscience can create in the field of legal and criminal liability 4) Having knowledge about the neurophysiological principles of human behavior and being able to apply this knowledge to the field of law |
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1) Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. | ||||
2) Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. | ||||
3) Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. | ||||
4) Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. | ||||
5) Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. | ||||
6) Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. | ||||
7) Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. | ||||
8) Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). | ||||
9) Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. | ||||
10) Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. | ||||
11) Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. | ||||
12) Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. | ||||
13) Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. |
N None | S Supportive | H Highly Related |
Program Outcomes and Competences | Level | Assessed by | |
1) | Thorough knowledge of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in psychology. | N | |
2) | Understanding of and ability to apply essential research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and data interpretation. | N | |
3) | Competence to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and a scientific approach to solving problems related to behavior and mental processes. | H | Exam,HW,Participation |
4) | Understanding and ability to apply psychological principles, skills and values in personal, social, and organizational contexts. | N | |
5) | Ability to weigh evidence, to tolerate ambiguity, and to reflect other values that underpin psychology as a discipline. | N | |
6) | Internalization and dissemination of professional ethical standards. | N | |
7) | Demonstration of competence in information technologies, and the ability to use computer and other technologies for purposes related to the pursuit of knowledge in psychology and the broader social sciences. | N | |
8) | Skills to communicate the knowledge of psychological science effectively, in a variety of formats, in both Turkish and in English (in English, at least CEFR B2 level). | N | |
9) | Recognition, understanding, and respect for the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity. | S | Participation |
10) | Recognition for the need for, and the skills to pursue, lifelong learning, inquiry, and self-improvement. | S | HW,Participation |
11) | Ability to formulate critical hypotheses based on psychological theory and literature, and design studies to test those hypotheses. | N | |
12) | Ability to acquire knowledge independently, and to plan one’s own learning. | S | Exam,HW |
13) | Demonstration of advanced competence in the clarity and composition of written work and presentations. | H | Exam,HW |
Prepared by and Date | ZEYNEP ÖZEN , January 2024 |
Course Coordinator | HÜLYA DİNÇER |
Semester | Fall |
Name of Instructor |
Week | Subject |
1) | Introduction |
2) | Introduction of course content |
3) | Brain: Biological structure and functioning |
4) | The brain as a social organ: Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience |
5) | Law and brain: Three different levels of the relationship between neuroscience and law |
6) | Neuroscience in courtrooms: Can data obtained with neuroimaging methods be legal evidence? 1- Current situation |
7) | Midterms |
8) | Neuroscience in courtrooms: Can data obtained with neuroimaging methods be legal evidence? 2- Future possibilities |
9) | Neuroscience, the problem of free will and law |
10) | Evolution of the brain as a social organ: A pattern of altruistic behavior |
11) | Evolution of altruism in the human species 1: rule-oriented reasoning |
12) | The evolution of altruism in the human species 2: punishment |
13) | Evolution of altruism in the human species 3: the free will hypothesis |
14) | Finals |
Required/Recommended Readings | Articles and resources shared by the course instructor | ||||||||||||
Teaching Methods | Theoretical explanation and evaluations | ||||||||||||
Homework and Projects | None | ||||||||||||
Laboratory Work | None | ||||||||||||
Computer Use | None | ||||||||||||
Other Activities | None | ||||||||||||
Assessment Methods |
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Course Administration |
dincerhu@mef.edu.tr Office Hours: By Appointment |
Activity | No/Weeks | Hours | Calculation | ||||
No/Weeks per Semester | Preparing for the Activity | Spent in the Activity Itself | Completing the Activity Requirements | ||||
Course Hours | 14 | 1 | 2 | 42 | |||
Homework Assignments | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Midterm(s) | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | |||
Final Examination | 1 | 6 | 2 | 8 | |||
Total Workload | 62 | ||||||
Total Workload/25 | 2.5 | ||||||
ECTS | 2 |