GEHU 204 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Genetics and Bioengineering

Course Name

Fundamentals of Philosophy

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
GEHU 204	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	6

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Service Course
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	-
Course Lecturer(s)	Yrd. Doç. Dr. Ali Özgür GÜRSOY
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives

To provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts and argumentative strategies of philosophy through an investigation of the question “What is a rational animal?” in relation to logic, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

#	Content	PC Sub	* Contribution Level
#	Content	PC Sub	1	2	3	4	5
1	will be able to understand and use basic concepts of logic, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy.
2	will be able to acquire and sharpen critical reasoning and writing skills.
3	will be able to develop skills necessary for the close reading and analysis of texts in the humanities and the social sciences.
4	will be able to evaluate arguments in terms of their validity and the truth of their premises.
5	will be able to distinguish between consequentialist (utilitarian), deontological, and virtue ethical types of evaluation for human actions.
6	will be able to distinguish between descriptive and prescriptive propositions, and apply that distinction to the problem of justification of political authority.
7	will be able to familiarize themselves with classical and contemporary philosophical and literary texts.

Course Description

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation	Learning Outcome
1	Presentation and overview of the course; discussion of how to begin philosophy by acknowledging that we have already begun.	Overview and discussion of a number of dilemmas and paradoxes.
2	Plato	Apology
3	What is an argument? The concepts of validity, truth and soundness. Types of justification; types of refutation: by parallel reasoning, counter-examples, reductio ad absurdum.	R. Fogelin, Understanding Arguments, pp 45-53 and pp. 405-433.
4	Fallacies of vacuity: circular reasoning, question-begging; fallacies of relevance: ad hominem, straw man, false cause, appeals to authority	Fogelin, pp. 477-405
5	The Chinese Room Argument: Can Computers think? Discussion of artificial intelligence.	Turing, A., 1948, ‘Intelligent Machinery: A Report’, London: National Physical Laboratory; Searle, J., 1980, ‘Minds, Brains and Programs’, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3: 417–57
6	MIDTERM
7	Introduction to epistemology	Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy, Meditation 1 and 2
8	Skepticism, sources of knowledge, methodic doubt, certainty as epistemic criterion, the cogito as first principle and model of	Descartes, Meditations 2 (contn’d) and 3
9	Philosophy and science: the thinking subject as embodied being subject to the laws of nature. FIRST PAPER DUE	Janet Richards, Human Nature After Darwin, pp. 4-25 FIRST PAPER DUE
10	Evolutionary biology as philosophical challenge and answer to the question “What is a rational animal?”	Richards, pp. 25-51
11	Determinism, freedom of the will, morality as a scientific problem and science as a moral problem	Richards, pp. 126-154
12	Consequentialism (Utilitarianism) and Deontology: arguments and criticisms	Kant, pp. 274-281; Bennett, pp. 294-306; Bentham, pp. 306-312; Williams pp. 339-345; M. L. K. Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail.
13	Moral Psychology and Perspectivism.	Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals, essays I and II.
14	The responsibilities and the problems of rational thought; the rational animal and the polis.	Aristotle, Politics, Bk. 1 1986-2000; Locke, 249-253; Bentham and Mill, 270-274 Levi, If This is a Man.
15	Week 14 cont’d. SECOND PAPER DUE.	Levi, Contn’d.
16	Final

Course Notes/Textbooks
Suggested Readings/Materials

Semester Activities	Number	Weighting	LO 1	LO 2	LO 3	LO 4	LO 5	LO 6	LO 7
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques	1	35
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments	1	30
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	35
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	100
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	16	3	48
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques	1		0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments	1		0
Presentation / Jury			0
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	20	20
Final Exam		22	0
		Total	116

#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To have adequate knowledge in Mathematics, Science and Genetics and Bioengineering; to be able to use theoretical and applied information in these areas on complex engineering problems.		-	-	-	-	-
2	To be able to identify, define, formulate, and solve complex Genetics and Bioengineering problems; to be able to select and apply proper analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.		-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to design a complex system, process, device or product under realistic constraints and conditions, in such a way as to meet the requirements; to be able to apply modern design methods for this purpose.		-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to devise, select, and use modern techniques and tools needed for analysis and solution of complex problems in Genetics and Bioengineering applications; to be able to use information technologies effectively.		-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to design and conduct experiments, gather data, analyze and interpret results for investigating complex engineering problems or Genetics and Bioengineering research topics.		-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to work efficiently in Genetics and Bioengineering disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams; to be able to work individually.		-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to communicate effectively in Turkish, both orally and in writing; to be able to author and comprehend written reports, to be able to prepare design and implementation reports, to present effectively, to be able to give and receive clear and comprehensible instructions.		-	-	-	-	-
8	To have knowledge about global and social impact of Genetics and Bioengineering practices on health, environment, and safety; to have knowledge about contemporary issues as they pertain to engineering; to be aware of the legal ramifications of Genetics and Bioengineering solutions.		-	-	-	-	-
9	To be aware of ethical behavior, professional and ethical responsibility; to have knowledge about standards utilized in Genetics and Bioengineering applications.		-	-	-	-	-
10	To have knowledge about industrial practices such as project management, risk management, and change management; to have awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation; to have knowledge about sustainable development.		-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the area of Genetics and Bioengineering, and to be able to communicate with colleagues in a foreign language.		-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.		-	-	-	-	-
13	To recognize the need for lifelong learning; to be able to access information, to be able to stay current with developments in science and technology; to be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to Genetics and Bioengineering.		-	-	-	-	-