| Course Description |
The aim of this course is to introduce the central approaches in contemporary political philosophy, and then critically compare the competing answers that they give to certain fundamental questions in political thought. The main approaches we will consider will be liberalism, communitarianism, and republicanism. Within each of these approaches, students will be exposed to various key concepts in contemporary political philosophy such as liberty, justice, identity, rights, equality, and many others. We will show how each of the main approaches differ on questions regarding these concepts and explore just how these differences play themselves out when theorizing about political issues broadly conceived. We will also focus on certain contemporary issues such as, feminism, citizenship, democracy, hate speech, cultural rights, identity politics and the welfare state. |
| Course Description in Turkish |
Bu dersin amacı çağdaş siyaset felsefesindeki temel tartışmaları ve sorunlara genel bir giriş yapmak, eleştirel bir bakışla farklı bakış açılarını değerlendirmek ve tartışabilmektir. Ders siyaset felsefesindeki üç temel pozisyonu tanımlayarak her sorunsala bu farklı pozisyonlardan verilen yanıtları sunacak ve karşılaştıracaktır. Bu eksende öğrenciler siyaset felsefesinin özgürlük, eşitlik, adalet haklar, kimlik gibi temel kavramlarını öğreneceklerdir. Derste ayrıca feminizm, vatandaşlık, demokrasi, nefret söylemi, kültürel haklar, kimlik siyaseti, sosyal devlet gibi çağdaş meseleler tartışılacaktır. |
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Program Outcomes and Competences |
Level |
Assessed by |
| 1) |
Has a broad foundation and intellectual awareness with exposure to mathematics, history, economics, and social sciences |
N |
|
| 2) |
Demonstrates knowledge and skills in different functional areas of business (accounting, finance, operations, marketing, strategy, and organization) and an understanding of their interactions within various industry sectors |
N |
|
| 3) |
Applies theoretical knowledge as well as creative, analytical, and critical thinking to manage complex technical or professional activities or projects
|
N |
|
| 4) |
Exhibits an understanding of global, environmental, economic, legal, and regulatory contexts for business sustainability |
N |
|
| 5) |
Demonstrates individual and professional ethical behavior and social responsibility |
N |
|
| 6) |
Demonstrates responsiveness to ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity values and issues |
N |
|
| 7) |
Uses written and spoken English effectively (at least CEFR B2 level) to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions |
N |
|
| 8) |
Demonstrates skills in data and information acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and reporting |
N |
|
| 9) |
Displays computer proficiency to support problem solving and decision-making |
N |
|
| 10) |
Demonstrates teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills |
N |
|
| 11) |
Displays learning skills necessary for further study with a high degree of autonomy
|
N |
|
| Week |
Subject |
| 1) |
David Miller (2003), “Why do we need political philosophy?” A Very Short Introduction to Political Philosophy, Oxford University Press. 1-19. |
| 2) |
Rawls, J. A Theory of Justice (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1999) Secs. 2-4, 9, 11-16, 20, 24-26.
(Topics: egalitarianism, liberty, justice as fairness, the veil of ignorance, social contract)
|
| 3) |
Anderson, E. ‘What is the Point of Equality’, Ethics, 109, 2 (1999), 287-337. first half of the paper
(Types of equality, critique of luck egalitarianism, deserving vs. undeserving poor)
|
| 4) |
Anderson, E. ‘What is the Point of Equality’, Ethics, 109, 2 (1999), 287-337 second half of the paper
(Sen’s Capability Approach, political equality)
|
| 5) |
Van Parijs, P. ‘Basic Income: A Simple and Powerful Idea for the Twenty-First Century’, in Ackerman, B. and Wright, E.O. (eds.) Redesigning Distribution (London: Verso, 2006).
(welfare provisions based on need or universal basic income)
|
| 6) |
Okin, S. M. ‘The Family: Gender and Justice’ Clayton, M., and A. Williams, (eds.) Social Justice (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004). |
| 7) |
Review and Paper topics discussion |
| 8) |
Philip Pettit, Negative and Positive Liberty, in Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government, 17-27.
Philip Pettit, Liberty as Non-domination, in Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government, 31-5. (The concept of domination, the master-slave theme)
|
| 9) |
Philip Pettit, Republican Freedom and Contestatory Democratization, 163-190
(Active citizenship, democratic participation, consent vs. contestation, mixed government, the tyranny of the majority.)
|
| 10) |
Fraser and Gordon (1994), “’Dependency’ Demystified,” Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 1994, Pages 4–31. |
| 11) |
Jeremy Waldron (2012), The Harm in Hate Speech, 1-34, Harvard University Press. |
| 12) |
Will Kymlicka (2002). Multiculturalism, In An Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy, 327-336. (Politics of redistribution or politics or recognition) |
| 13) |
Will Kymlicka (2002). Multiculturalism as Communitarianism, In An Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy, 336-343, 368-9. |
| 14) |
General review, final paper topics discussion |
| 15) |
Final Examination Period |
| 16) |
Final Examination Period |
Information Package / Course Catalogue