Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
5HUK 337PHILOSOPHY OF LAW2+0+02302.11.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Law
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course By giving information on the definition of the term philosophy of law, the problems and issues that legal philosophy deals with, and the determination of its difference from other fields; It is to provide the acquisition of a legal culture by gaining skills such as analyzing, interpreting and critical approach.
Course Content In the first part of the course, the concept of legal philosophy is introduced and natural law and legal positivism are discussed. In the second part, the subjects of law and rights and justice are discussed. In the third part of the course, the subject of law and society and critical legal theory are explained.
Course Methods and Techniques The course is conducted through lectures, Q&A sessions, analysis of philosophical texts, and in-class discussions. Students identify the views advocated by the philosopher in selected texts, the concepts used, and the reasons on which those views are based. In classroom discussions, they address questions—such as whether an unjust rule can be considered legally valid—from the perspectives of natural law and legal positivism, evaluating opposing viewpoints to justify their own answers.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Prof.Dr. Hamdi Gökçe Zabunoğlu
Assistants Research Assist. Cahit Baybars Kayhan
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources A Brief Introduction to the Philosophy of Law, Raymond Wacks, Tekin Publishing, 2017, Istanbul
Understanding Legal Theory, Raymond Wacks, 3rd Edition, 2025, Astana Publications, Ankara.
Philosophy of Law, Prof. Dr. Adnan GÜRİZ, 18th Edition, Siyasal Kitabevi, Ankara
Course Notes The course notes address the problem of defining law, the methodology of the philosophy of law, and the relationship between law and language. The course examines the development of natural law thought from antiquity to the modern era, social contract theories, the historical school of law, Kant’s conception of law, and legal positivism. The relationship between rights and justice, as well as Dworkin’s interpretive conception of law, are emphasized. The relationship between law and society is examined through the perspectives of Durkheim, Weber, Marx, Habermas, and Foucault. The notes also cover critical legal theory, postmodern legal theory, feminist legal theory, and critical race theory.

Course Category
Social Sciences %100
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 2 28
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 2 28
Mid-terms 1 2 2
Final examination 1 2 2
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 2 60

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 To learn the concept of legal philosophy and basic approaches and to be able to think about these issues,
2 Learning natural law and legal positivism approaches,
3 Learning about the views of thinkers such as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber on law and society
4 To be able to explain the relationship between rights and justice,
5 Understanding the Natural Law School in All Its Aspects

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 The content of legal terminology and the philosophy of law
2 Method, Language, and Law: The Problem of Definition
3 Legal Approaches, Schools of Law (Overview)
4 Natural Law School—Ancient Times—Sophists
5 Natural Law School—Socrates, Plato
6 Natural Law School—Aristotle
7 The Natural Law School—the Stoics, Cicero, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus
8 Midterm exam
9 Natural Law School—Modern Era—Social Contract Theory; Grotius, Hobbes, Locke
10 Natural Law School—Modern Era; J.J. Rousseau—Historical School
11 Natural Law School—Modern Era; Idealist Approaches—Kant
12 Within the subject of law and society, the views of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber are presented.
13 Within the subject of law and society, the views of Karl Marx, Jürgen Habermas and Michel Foucault are presented.
14 The subjects of critical legal theory, postmodern legal theory, feminist legal theory and critical race theory have been put forward.
15 Alternative Approaches to Natural Law—Modern Contemporary Debates: Dworkin

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
C1 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 5 2
C2 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 5 2
C3 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 5 2
C4 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 5 2
C5 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 3 5 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant