The Department of Philosophy and Sociology of Science focuses on the examination of issues in the history of science through a philosophical and sociological framework, employing an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective. The aim is to evaluate approaches to the nature of scientific knowledge and its reflections in society by integrating philosophical and sociological viewpoints within the historical journey from past to present.
The department aims to scrutinize the intersections between various scientific fields and the disciplines of philosophy and sociology; to explore what science truly means for society in an era where the criterion of “scientificity” has been canonized; and to analyze the thought systems underlying scientific developments in the context of moral, political, and socio-cultural value judgments.
Studies conducted within the Department of Philosophy and Sociology of Science are expected not to be limited to a specific field or period. Instead, they should encompass various scientific disciplines (such as natural sciences, mathematical sciences), historical periods (classical, contemporary, etc.), and theoretical approaches (positivist, critical, interpretative, etc.).
Graduates of the postgraduate programs within the scope of Philosophy and Sociology of Science are expected to develop academic competencies such as: interpreting and evaluating scientific studies in the field from an original perspective; reinterpreting them using contemporary academic approaches and methodologies; critically assessing scientific works; designing and conducting original research in the field; systematically interpreting and resolving current and societal problems; and analyzing acquired knowledge in light of scientific and social transformations.
In line with these objectives, the department envisions the implementation of postgraduate programs and national/international projects that prioritize the following research directions:
- The mutual relationship between science and philosophy;
- Thinkers and schools of thought that develop philosophical approaches to the nature of science and scientific activity;
- The psychological dimensions of scientific thinking and its reflection in behavior;
- Conceptual, methodological, and literary frameworks of science classifications developed through different intellectual orientations;
- Theories developed to determine the criterion of "scientific knowledge";
- The interaction between the validity and reliability criteria of scientific studies and prevailing societal norms;
- The production, storage, and transmission of scientific knowledge, and the development of socio-cultural interaction networks;
- The history of institutions where science education and scientific research are theoretically or practically conducted;
- The ethical and political dimensions of scientific studies in the context of the science-values relationship;
-The interaction of science with cultural, artistic, social, political, and institutional factors.