Information Package / Course Catalogue
Philosophy in the XVII. Century
Course Code: FEL208
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 3
Prt.: 0
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 7
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to compare and contrast the views of such philosophers as Descartes, Locke, Spinoza, and Leibniz from a historical perspective.

Course Content

In this course, the views of such philosophers as Descartes, Locke, and Spinoza on being, knowledge, ethics, and politics, etc., are compared and contrasted from a historical perspective.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Şahabettin YALÇIN
Learning Outcomes
1.To be able to explain important philosophers and thoughts of 17th century
2.To be able to situate philsophers in a historical context.
3.To be able to explain contributons of 17th century on modern philosophy.
4.Comparing and contrasting philosophical views of the 17th century philosophers.
5.Examining the affect of 17th century philosophers on later philosohy.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Descartes, René. The Philosophical Writings of Descartes. Volume I (Translated by John Cottingham, R.Stoothoff, D.Murdoch). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990
2.Locke, John, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, London, Penguin Classics, 2023.
3.Leibniz, G.W., Discourse on Metaphysics and the Monadology (Translated by George R. Montgomery), Prometheus Boks, New York, 1992 (Türkçesi: Monadoloji, (Çev. Can Şahan), Kuram Yay., İstanbul, 1980.)
4.Spinoza, Benedict de, Works of Spinoza, Volume I (Translated by R.H.M.Elwes), New York, Dover Publications, 1951
5.Cevizci, Ahmet. 17th Century Philosophy, İstanbul, Say Pub., 2023.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Main characteristics of 17th century philosophy
Week 1 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 2 - Theoretical
Introduction to Kartesian philosophy
Week 2 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 3 - Theoretical
Descartes: Skeptical method and cogito argument
Week 3 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 4 - Theoretical
Descartes: Concept of idea and the existence of God.
Week 4 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 5 - Theoretical
Descartes: The concept of substance and the problem of the relationship between mind and body
Week 5 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 6 - Theoretical
Locke: The problem of innate knowledge
Week 6 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 7 - Theoretical
Locke: Simple and complex ideas, the linguistik status of nouns, substance and qualities.
Week 7 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 8 - Intermediate Exam
Locke: Theori of knowledge and political philosophy
Week 9 - Theoretical
Spinoza: The concept of substance (God)
Week 9 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 10 - Theoretical
Spinoza: Philosophy of mind
Week 10 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 11 - Theoretical
Spinoza: Ethics
Week 11 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 12 - Theoretical
Leibniz: Simple and complex substances
Week 12 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 13 - Theoretical
Leibniz: Theory of knowledge
Week 13 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Week 14 - Theoretical
Leibniz: Ethics
Week 14 - Preparation Work
Book, Internet and Library Browsing
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory140342
Reading140342
Midterm Examination140141
Final Examination150151
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)176
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
3
3
2
1
OÇ-2
3
2
3
1
OÇ-3
3
1
1
2
OÇ-4
2
1
2
OÇ-5
3
1
5
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026