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Bilkent University

Online Academic Catalog

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs 2024-2025


PHILOSOPHY

Simon Drummond Wigley, Ph.D., Chair

Academic Staff
Courses

The aim of the department is threefold: (i) by exploring influential philosophical arguments and ways of arguing, the department intends to impart upon the students the intellectual resources to discern lines of thought and courses of action that are defensible as opposed to ill-considered; (ii) the department aims to foster background capabilities---self-reliance, judging well when making decisions, creativity in problem-solving, adaptability, argumentative acumen and so forth---that complement and are essential to the good use of vocational skills; (iii) by investigating abstract problems and arguments in depth and by adopting an analytic stance the department aims to provide students with a solid platform from which to pursue graduate studies in philosophy.

The curriculum is broad based in that the students are required to complete courses in a number of academic fields other than philosophy, i.e., physics, biology, computers, mathematics, economics, languages, literature, arts and history. Because the curriculum provides each student with a substantive grounding in these fields, the student is able to constructively challenge the way they are practiced from a position of authority rather than from a position of hearsay. Besides, several of the courses (e.g. languages, statistics, computer programming, summer training) aim to develop specific skills that are essential to the workplace. In the meantime, the philosophy courses on their own provide a more than sufficient basis from which to pursue graduate work in philosophy. As a result, the critical mass of philosophical understanding is established whilst at the same time each student's future career options are not foreclosed due to unnecessary over-specialization at an early stage.

The department places a premium upon: (i) discussion-based class work, encouraging the students to be actively part of the learning experience; (ii) essay-based assessment (complemented by a drafting process and a series of essay tutorials); (iii) tutorials and ongoing feedback; (iv) trusting the students to come to terms with the original texts, rather than asking them to work from watered-down commentaries on those texts; (v) the development of each student's ability to pursue independent research (culminating in the fourth year where a thesis is completed on a chosen topic under the supervision of a faculty member).

The Philosophy Undergraduate Program, Minor Program, and Course Descriptions can be found at the following address: http://www.phil.bilkent.edu.tr.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
CS 121  Introduction to Computer Applications and Programming  2  2  3  5
ENG 101  English and Composition I  5    3  5
GE 100  Orientation      1  2
MATH 105  Introduction to Calculus I  4    4  6.5
PHIL 101  Introduction to Logic  3    3  5
PHIL 103  Introduction to Philosophy I  3    3  5
TURK 101  Turkish I      2  3.5

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ECON 103  Principles of Economics  4    3  5
ENG 102  English and Composition II  5    3  5
MATH 106  Introduction to Calculus II  4    4  6.5
PHIL 102  Ancient Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 104  Introduction to Philosophy II  3    3  5
TURK 102  Turkish II      2  3.5

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 250  Collegiate Activities Program I      -  1
HCIV 101  History of Civilization I  3    3  5
HIST 200  History of Turkey  3    4  6.5
PHIL 201  Epistemology  3    3  5
PHIL 203  Rationalists  3    3  5
PHYS 180  Conceptual Physics  3    3  5
  Second Foreign Language Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 251  Collegiate Activities Program II      1  2
HCIV 102  History of Civilization II  3    3  5
MBG 110  Introduction to Modern Biology  3    3  5
PHIL 202  Ethics  3    3  5
PHIL 204  Empiricists  3    3  5
PSYC 100  Introduction to Psychology  3    3  5
  Second Foreign Language Elective      3  -

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
COMD 358  Professional Communication  3    3  5
PHIL 299  Summer Training I      -  7
PHIL 303  Kant  3    3  5
PHIL 307  Paradox and Infinity  3    3  5
PHIL 401  Metaphysics  3    3  5
  Second Foreign Language Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHIL 301  Political Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 306  Philosophy of Language  3    3  5
PHIL 308  Philosophy of Mind  3    3  5
  Arts Core Elective      3  -
  Second Foreign Language Elective      3  -

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ECON 221  Introduction to Probability and Statistics I  3    3  5
PHIL 304  History and Philosophy of Science  3    3  5
PHIL 399  Summer Training II      -  7
PHIL 403  Senior Thesis I  3    3  5
  Computing Elective      3  -
  Electives (2)      6  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHIL 302  Social and Legal Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 404  Senior Thesis II  3    3  5
  Elective      3  -
  Social Science Core Elective      3  -

SECOND FOREIGN LANGUAGE ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HART 231  Ancient Greek I  3    3  5
HART 232  Ancient Greek II  3    3  5
HART 239  Latin I  3    3  5
HART 240  Latin II  3    3  5
HART 333  Ancient Greek III  3    3  5
HART 343  Latin III  3    3  5
HART 372  Hittite I  3    3  5
HART 373  Hittite II  3    3  5
LNG 121  French I  4    3  5
LNG 122  French II  4    3  5
LNG 123  French III  4    3  5
LNG 124  Intermediate French I  4    3  5
LNG 125  Intermediate French II  4    3  5
LNG 126  Intermediate French III  4    3  5
LNG 127  Intermediate French IV  4    3  5
LNG 128  Communication Skills in French I  4    3  5
LNG 129  Communication Skills in French II  4    3  5
LNG 131  German I  4    3  5
LNG 132  German II  4    3  5
LNG 133  German III  4    3  5
LNG 134  Intermediate German I  4    3  5
LNG 135  Intermediate German II  4    3  5
LNG 136  Intermediate German III  4    3  5
LNG 137  Intermediate German IV  4    3  5
LNG 138  Communication Skills in German I  4    3  5
LNG 139  Communication Skills in German II  4    3  5
LNG 321  Readings in French I  4    3  5
LNG 322  Readings in French II  4    3  5
LNG 331  Readings in German I  4    3  5
LNG 332  Readings in German II  4    3  5

HISTORY ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
AMER 293  American History I  3    3  5
AMER 294  American History II  3    3  5
HART 120  Human Evolution and World Prehistory  3    3  5
HIST 411  Ottoman History: 1300-1600  3    3  5
HIST 412  Ottoman History: 1600-1914  3    3  5
HIST 413  Byzantine History I: 324-1025  3    3  5
HIST 414  Byzantine History II: 1025-1453  3    3  5
HIST 417  Medieval Europe (500-1500)  3    3  5
HIST 418  Modern Europe (1453-1914)  3    3  5
HIST 431  History of the United States until the Reconstruction  3    3  5
HIST 432  History of the United States from the Reconstruction  3    3  5
IR 464  History of the Cold War  3    3  5
IR 493  European Union  3    3  5
POLS 338  Cosmopolis: From the Roman to the Ottoman and British Empires  3    3  5

LITERATURE ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
AMER 343  American Theater  3    3  5
AMER 357  American Intellectual History I  3    3  5
AMER 358  American Intellectual History II  3    3  5
AMER 374  American Poetry  3    3  5
AMER 383  American Novel to 1900  3    3  5
AMER 384  American Novel From 1900  3    3  5
AMER 448  American Pragmatism  3    3  5
AMER 492  Gender Studies in American Culture  3    3  5
ELIT 386  Transformations: Novels between Genres, Genders, and Species  3    3  5
ELIT 388  Plays and London since 1850  3    3  5
ELIT 425  From the Study of Literature to Literary Studies. The Development of a Discipline  3    3  5
ELIT 463  Postcolonial Literature  3    3  5
HUM 331  Humanities and Social Science Honors Seminar  3    3  5
POLS 437  Politics and Literature  3    3  5

ART ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
AMER 303  Film Studies in American Culture to 1960  3    4  6.5
AMER 304  Film Studies in American Culture Since 1960  3    4  6.5
COMD 321  Analysis of Moving Image  3    3  5
COMD 322  Film Theory and Criticism  3    3  5
COMD 354  Game Design and Research    3  3  5
FA 213  Introduction to Printmaking I    3  3  5
FA 223  Visual Perception and Color    3  3  5
FA 331  Technology of Art  3    3  5
FA 332  Art,Technology and Science  3    3  5
FA 361  Philosophy of Art I  3    3  5
FA 421  Analysis of Artwork  3    3  5
GRA 341  History of Graphic Art  3    3  5

ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
AMER 207  American Texts and Contexts I  3    4  6.5
AMER 208  American Texts and Contexts II  3    4  6.5
AMER 293  American History I  3    3  5
BIM 223  Business Communications  4    3  5
BIM 224  Managerial Communications  4    3  5
COMD 322  Film Theory and Criticism  3    3  5
COMD 331  News Reporting and Writing  3    3  5
COMD 341  Media and Society  3    3  5
COMD 363  Music and Media  3    3  5
COMD 364  Video Production for Non-majors    3  3  5
COMD 433  Gender and Media  3    3  5
COMD 471  Media Ethics  3    3  5
ECON 203  Microeconomic Theory I  3    3  5
ECON 205  Macroeconomic Theory I  3    3  5
ECON 363  History of Economic Thought  3    3  5
ELIT 139  Appreciation of Literature  3    3  5
GE 421  Education for Sustainability: Concepts and Practices  3    3  5
GRA 209  Graphic Design for Non-Majors    3  3  5
GRA 218  Essentials of Photography    3  3  5
GRA 323  Logos, Symbols and Signs    3  3  5
GRA 324  Photographic Practice    3  3  5
HART 117  Ways of Seeing: Approaches to Art and Architectural History  3    3  5
HART 120  Human Evolution and World Prehistory  3    3  5
HART 221  Great Discoveries from the Ancient World  3    3  5
HART 227  Greek Archaeology  3    3  5
HART 372  Hittite I  3    3  5
HART 373  Hittite II  3    3  5
HART 409  Museum Practices and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage  3    3  5
HUM 113  Democracy and Empire in the Ancient World  3    3  5
IR 101  Introduction to World Politics  3    3  5
IR 331  War, Peace and Security  3    3  5
IR 335  International Relations Theory  3    3  5
IR 338  International Political Economy  3    3  5
IR 413  Game Theory and International Politics  3    3  5
LAW 313  Business Law (in Turkish)  3    3  5
MBG 110  Introduction to Modern Biology  3    3  5
MBG 416  Science and Ethics  3    3  5
MBG 488  Introduction to Human Genetics  3    3  5
PHIL 408  Nineteenth Century Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 418  Philosophy of Cognitive Science  3    3  5
PHIL 421  Feminist Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 422  Bioethics  3    3  5
PHIL 423  Philosophy of Action  3    3  5
PHIL 426  Plato  3    3  5
PHIL 428  Hellenistic Philosophy  3    3  5
POLS 449  Political Concepts  3    3  5
POLS 488  Film and Politics  3    3  5
POLS 4536  Turkish Politics in Comparative Perspective  3    3  5
POLS 4560  Contemporary Political Theory  3    3  5
PSYC 102  Introduction to Social Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 103  Introduction to Psychology/Social and Developmental  3    3  5
PSYC 200  Cognitive Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 203  Statistical Methods in Psychological Science I  3    3  5
PSYC 205  Statistical Methods in Psychological Science II  3    3  5
PSYC 220  Brain and Behavior  3    3  5
PSYC 230  Social Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 240  Developmental Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 310  Perception, Attention, and Action  3    3  5
PSYC 320  Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience  3    3  5
PSYC 420  Selected Topics in Cognitive Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 430  Clinical Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 431  Psychological Testing and Measurement  3    3  5
PSYC 433  Abnormal Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 434  Child and Adolescent Psychopathology  3    3  5
PSYC 435  Industrial and Organizational Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 482  Mind in Evolution  3    3  5
PSYC 483  Theory of Mind  3    3  5

MINOR PROGRAM

With a foundation in core introductory courses, and flexibility in course selection for more advanced courses, the Minor in Philosophy allows students to tailor their program to a particular interest, for example mind, language, natural or social science, history of ideas, social theory, value theory. Students from all departments are welcome to apply to the program.

Prerequisite Courses: None

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHIL 103  Introduction to Philosophy I  3    3  5
PHIL 104  Introduction to Philosophy II  3    3  5
PHIL 201  Epistemology  3    3  5
  Electives (3)      9  -

ELECTIVE COURSES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHIL 101  Introduction to Logic  3    3  5
PHIL 102  Ancient Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 202  Ethics  3    3  5
PHIL 203  Rationalists  3    3  5
PHIL 204  Empiricists  3    3  5
PHIL 301  Political Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 302  Social and Legal Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 303  Kant  3    3  5
PHIL 304  History and Philosophy of Science  3    3  5
PHIL 306  Philosophy of Language  3    3  5
PHIL 307  Paradox and Infinity  3    3  5
PHIL 308  Philosophy of Mind  3    3  5
PHIL 401  Metaphysics  3    3  5
PHIL 408  Nineteenth Century Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 418  Philosophy of Cognitive Science  3    3  5
PHIL 421  Feminist Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 422  Bioethics  3    3  5
PHIL 423  Philosophy of Action  3    3  5
PHIL 426  Plato  3    3  5
PHIL 428  Hellenistic Philosophy  3    3  5

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Master of Arts in Philosophy

The M.A. degree in philosophy is designed to develop an advanced understanding of philosophical problems, especially those in contemporary analytic philosophy and the history of philosophy. It provides students with an understanding of key philosophical debates and problems, and encourages them to develop and defend their own argumentative position. Coursework will often have an interdisciplinary character. Many courses will explore the impact of empirical and theoretical developments in other disciplines on contemporary philosophical debates.

Admission: All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES scores, past academic records, reference letters, writing sample, entrance exam, and interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizens who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit proof that they have a sufficient level of English.

Degree Requirements: The program requires students to complete a minimum of 21 units of course work. By the end of the second year the student will complete and defend a master's thesis in a specialized field of study.

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 590  Academic Practices      -  12
PHIL 501  Research Preparation in Philosophy I  3    3  5
PHIL 502  Research Preparation in Philosophy II  3    3  5
PHIL 591  Thesis Seminar I  2    -  1
PHIL 599  M.A.Dissertation      -  71
  Electives (2)      6  -
  Expanded Restricted Electives (2)      6  -
  Restricted Elective      3  -

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy

The Ph.D. degree in philosophy is designed to develop an advanced understanding of philosophical problems, especially those in contemporary analytic philosophy and the history of philosophy. In addition, the degree prepares and guides each candidate through the writing of a thesis, which represents a substantial and original scholarly contribution to philosophy.

Admission: All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES scores, past academic records, reference letters, writing sample, entrance exam, and interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizens who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit proof that they have a sufficient level of English.

Degree Requirements: 21 credit units of course work beyond the master's level or 42 credits of course work beyond the bachelor's level is required. Ph.D. candidates must pass a qualifying exam and then must prepare a thesis proposal. Preparing and defending a dissertation based on original research represents the core of the program. A paper must be accepted or published in a reputable journal before the dissertation can be defended. The expected duration to complete the Ph.D. program is eight semesters for students who enter the program after a master's degree, and ten semesters for those who enter after a bachelor's degree.

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 690  Academic Practices      -  24
PHIL 501  Research Preparation in Philosophy I  3    3  5
PHIL 502  Research Preparation in Philosophy II  3    3  5
PHIL 691  Thesis Seminar II  2    -  1
PHIL 699  Ph.D. Dissertation      -  203
  Electives (2)      6  -
  Expanded Restricted Electives (2)      6  -
  Restricted Elective      3  -

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (After a Bachelor's Degree)

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 690  Academic Practices      -  24
PHIL 501  Research Preparation in Philosophy I  3    3  5
PHIL 502  Research Preparation in Philosophy II  3    3  5
PHIL 591  Thesis Seminar I  2    -  1
PHIL 691  Thesis Seminar II  2    -  1
PHIL 699  Ph.D. Dissertation      -  203
  Electives (5)      15  -
  Expanded Restricted Electives (5)      15  -
  Restricted Electives (2)      6  -

EXPANDED RESTRICTED ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 511  Philosophy of Social Inquiry  3    3  5
PHIL 504  Philosophy of Cognitive Science  3    3  5
PHIL 507  Feminist Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 508  Bioethics  3    3  5
PHIL 509  Philosophy of Action  3    3  5
PHIL 518  Nineteenth Century Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 526  Plato  3    3  5
PHIL 528  Hellenistic Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 531  Metaphysics  3    3  5
PHIL 533  Kant  3    3  5
PHIL 534  Social and Legal Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 537  Paradox and Infinity  3    3  5

RESTRICTED ELECTIVES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 511  Philosophy of Social Inquiry  3    3  5
PHIL 504  Philosophy of Cognitive Science  3    3  5
PHIL 507  Feminist Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 508  Bioethics  3    3  5
PHIL 509  Philosophy of Action  3    3  5
PHIL 518  Nineteenth Century Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 526  Plato  3    3  5
PHIL 528  Hellenistic Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 531  Metaphysics  3    3  5
PHIL 533  Kant  3    3  5
PHIL 534  Social and Legal Philosophy  3    3  5
PHIL 537  Paradox and Infinity  3    3  5

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