Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1MBH147Philosophy and Sociology of Law2+0+02322.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Associate Degree
Department / Program Court Office Services
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
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 Lectures (direct instruction), question-and-answer sessions, discussions, practical exercises and design techniques are used.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Irmak Hacaloğlu
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Hukuk Felsefesine Kısa Bir Giriş (Raymond Wocks)

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 23 2 46
Mid-terms 1 1 1
Final examination 1 1 1
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 2,5 76

 
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 the interpretation methods used in law and applying them in different legal fields,
4 To be able to explain the relationship between rights and justice,
5 Learning the critical legal theory approach and its views on other fields.
6 Who can examine the concept of justice from an external and holistic perspective, from the standpoint of the philosophy and sociology of law,
7 By developing a critical perspective on existing law, they will be able to use the data they have gathered to arrive at the law as it ought to be,
8 Through the sociology of law, it will be possible to highlight the social nature of law and the direct link between society and the law

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Definition of philosophy of law, its necessity and revealing what law is.
2 Definition of law within the scope of natural law. Revealing the approaches and views of Cicero, Aristotle, St. Augustine and Aquinas
3 Revealing the natural laws that Hobbes put forward with his approach to natural rights
4 Identifying and explaining the approaches put forward by John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau within the framework of natural law.
5 Explaining the decline and rise of natural law theory. Revealing Lon Fuller's approach that sees law as having internal morality
6 Contemporary natural law theory and revealing the views, approaches and principles of John Finnis, who is an important representative of it.
7 Introduction to legal positivism and revealing the views of Jeremy Bentham and John Austin, the two great pioneers of classical legal positivism.
8 Midterm exam
9 H.L.A. Revealing Hart's view of law as social rules, Hans Kelsen's law as norms and Joseph Raz's views of law as social phenomenon.
10 Ronald Dworkin's understanding of law, tough cases, principles and policies, liberalism, law as integrity are presented.
11 Within the title of rights and justice, Hohfeld's analysis, theory of rights, justice, utilitarianism, economic analysis of law, justice as fairness are presented.
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 General Review

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7
C1 5 4 4 4 5 3 2
C2 5 4 4 4 5 3 2
C3 5 4 4 4 5 3 2
C4 5 4 4 4 5 3 2
C5 5 4 4 4 5 3 2
C6
C7
C8

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