Minor Introductions: Philosophy
Charles Olson, the eminent American poet, once wrote: "I have had to learn the simplest things / last. Which made for difficulties." Philosophy, despite its fame as a difficult endeavor, is in fact obsessed with simplicity. Maybe its notoriety lies in its resolution, as a discipline, not to take anything for granted. The main activity of a philosopher is to raise imaginative questions and make fresh distinctions. Not every situation deserves such questioning or discerning. Traditionally philosophy has always been concerned with the so-called "philosophical situations," situations which carry universal import and may conceal intricacies. Common examples include situations of conflict, political situations, ethical situations, situations of self-doubt, aesthetic situations, amorous situations, etc. Since the dawn of philosophy (which can be traced back to the great philosophers of antiquity), the most promising approach to philosophical activity has been analytic. In the analytic style, situations are defined with painstaking scrutiny. Precise formulations are given and convincing arguments are put forward to support claims. To quote John Searle from the University of California, Berkeley, "If you can't say it clearly you don't understand it yourself."
Contemporary philosopher Tom Nagel regards possible solutions to nine problems as the essential responsibilities of a philosopher: knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-body problem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words. He argues that the best way to become skilled at philosophy is to think about these problems directly and as pure questions of rational inquiry.
Since its inception in 2003, the Department of Philosophy has hosted numerous distinguished analytic philosophers as short- or long-term visitors. The staff members, while pursuing different interests within the discipline, also subscribe to the analytic vision and publish in top journals of the profession. The curriculum includes, among others, courses such as Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge), Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Science, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Aesthetics, and Metaphysics. These courses look at, without ignoring the associated historical contexts, the proposed solutions to the foregoing problems mentioned by Nagel.
The minor program in philosophy should arm a student who completes its course requirements with an indispensable background (and tricks of the trade) needed for advanced study. Students from all departments are encouraged to apply. While a minor is the most rewarding pathway to a nontrivial appreciation of philosophy, students interested in any aspect of philosophy are also invited to take PHIL courses more sparingly. All of the offerings of the department are free of prerequisites; just a brief chat with an instructor would be enough to convince a student that taking even a single philosophy course can be enriching and fun. Please direct email inquiries to phil@bilkent.edu.tr or do call ext. 1072.