The LIBE 110 - Critical Perspectives on Humanity is one of the courses offered in the common core curriculum for all students across departments at TED University. This course explores key issues faced by individuals and society, combining historical, ethical, and philosophical perspectives. In the course, we aim to go beyond the boundaries of the humanities, offering an interdisciplinary approach expanding students' intellectual horizons. Discussions of the human condition and societal issues, grounded in philosophical and historical contexts, are intended to enhance students’ analytical thinking and strengthen their capacity to construct persuasive arguments. With diverse disciplinary viewpoints, the course not only builds academic knowledge but also deepens critical thinking and questioning skills. This learning process enables participants to view issues from a broader perspective and develop a stronger intellectual foundation. Successfully completing this course ensures that students possess a solid grounding in the basic concepts, debates, and perspectives presented in the field of humanities at the introductory academic level.
| Course Title | Critical Perspectives on Humanity |
|---|---|
| Course Code | LIBE 110 |
| Course Content | This course encompasses the critical, contextual, and analytical discussion and evaluation of the main questions, contexts, and topics concerning humans and humanity as both individual and social beings. It approaches these issues through an interdisciplinary and reflective perspective that transcends the boundaries of the humanities, combining both historical and structuralist viewpoints. |
| Course Objective | Students will engage with fundamental questions, contexts, and issues related to humanity and to humans as both individual and social beings through an interdisciplinary and reflective approach that transcends the traditional boundaries of the humanities. They will critically, contextually, and analytically examine the core challenges, discourses, and questions faced by individuals and communities from historical and structuralist perspectives. Students will also compare different historical, ethical, and philosophical approaches to these essential human questions, identifying their similarities and differences. Furthermore, they will engage in the critical reading and discussion of primary sources selected from various historical, philosophical, and ethical contexts, as well as from diverse fields within the humanities. |
| Textbook(s) and/or Other Required Material | Students will be introduced to fundamental questions, contexts, and issues concerning humanity and humans as individual and social beings through an interdisciplinary and reflective approach that transcends the traditional boundaries of the humanities. They will critically, analytically, and contextually examine the key challenges, discourses, and questions faced by individuals and communities from both historical and structuralist perspectives. Students will be able to compare different historical, ethical, and philosophical approaches to these essential human questions and identify their similarities and differences. They will also engage in the critical reading and discussion of primary sources selected from various historical, philosophical, and ethical contexts, as well as from different fields within the humanities. |
| Teaching Methods and Techniques | The teaching method of the course is based on interactive, discussion-centered learning within the classroom. Students are expected to actively engage in discussions on topics drawn from materials prepared and presented/supervised by the instructors throughout the course. By contributing their ideas and participating in these discussions—individually or in groups—they consolidate their understanding of the relevant topics. |
| Learning Outcomes | • To distinguish between different historical, ethical, and philosophical approaches to the fundamental questions, problems, and challenges faced by humanity and individuals, within conceptual frameworks such as “survival in nature,” “order and disorder in society,” and “individual well-being.” • To analyze and critically evaluate how and why these historical, ethical, and philosophical approaches emerged in relation to the historical contexts in which they were developed. • To develop informed, intellectually grounded, and critically reasoned individual perspectives and arguments on historical and contemporary developments concerning the human condition. |
| The Contribution of the Course to Subject-Specific Teaching | This course provides students with the knowledge and opportunity to engage in discussions on various perspectives and approaches to fundamental questions and issues concerning humanity, as they have emerged in different historical contexts. By doing so, it lays the groundwork for developing well-founded views and generating ideas within their own fields of specialization. Learning the core theories and methods of different disciplines in the humanities enables students to approach their own disciplines from a broader perspective. Moreover, gaining the ability to critically evaluate diverse viewpoints and to develop their own arguments based on these perspectives supports them in forming well-reasoned and persuasive positions, both in their professional and everyday lives. |
| ECTS | 5 |
| Week | Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Course: Exploring the Human Experience |
| 2 | Foundations of Human Understanding: Myths |
| 3 | From Nomadism to Settlement: Epics, Heroes, Monsters, and Identity |
| 4 | From Epic to Tragedy: The Emergence of Ego, Society, and Reason |
| 5 | Free Will, Determinism, and Human Psychology |
| 6 | Ethics and Morality: Making Ethical Decisions in an Uncertain World |
| 7 | Reasoning and Fallacies: Critical Thinking in Everyday Life |
| 8 | Subjectivity and Objectivity: Understanding the World |
| 9 | Consciousness, Emotions, Needs, and the Unconscious |
| 10 | Aesthetics, Beauty, and Love: Exploring Human Values |
| 11 | The Human Experience in Society: Concepts, Contexts, and Approaches |
| 12 | Social Order and Conflicts: Traditions, Challenges, and Change |
| 13 | Ecological Approaches to the Human Experience: Sustainability and the Environment |
| 14 | Happiness, Purpose, and Meaning: Paths to a Fulfilling Life |