The "German Tradition at İstanbul University" seminar, one of the İstanbul Philosophy Seminars held by the Philosophy Department of the İstanbul University Faculty of Letters, was held on March 21, 2023, at the Blue Hall of İstanbul University with the participation of Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı.

The opening speeches of the program were undertaken by İstanbul University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mustafa Oral Öncül and İstanbul University Faculty of Letters, Head of Philosophy Department Prof. Dr. Cengiz Çakmak.

“You Can't Talk About Tradition Without Opening the Past to the Future”

Answering the question of whether tradition remains in the world we live in, with the words "You cannot talk about tradition unless you can open the past to the future in the present," Prof Dr Cengiz Çakmak stated that he grew up with a mentality that closes the past in the present. He stated that İstanbul has passed away quietly, and that when İstanbul is mentioned, only the courtyards of small mosques remain. Dividing İstanbul’s characteristics of being an Ottoman city into four categories, Prof. Dr. Çakmak stated that İstanbul is moving away from these features and drew attention to the philosophy that comes into play here.

“The World We Live in Is the Cave of Neo-Liberalism”

Prof. Dr. Çakmak, who stated that neo-liberal culture wiped out everything and philosophy got its share from this situation, added that "The world we live in is the cave of neo-liberalism," quoting Plato's analogy. After expressing that there would be no science without philosophy in such a world, he said that with the disappearance of this pillar in universities, physicians could not be trained. Socrates' "Yes! I am trying to corrupt the morals of the Athenian children.”

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Oral Öncül, who started his speech by expressing that he was very proud to host Prof Dr İlber Ortaylı as İstanbul University, added that Prof Dr İlber Ortaylı's transfer of information from the past to us by evaluating it with all the cultural accumulation of the present is of great value for all of us. He concluded his speech by expressing that he was waiting with great excitement for him to compile this information from the past under his intellectual perspective and present it to us.

After the opening speeches, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Letters Prof. Dr. Sevtap Kadıoğlu, who assumed the moderation of the program, made a brief introduction about the history of İstanbul University and left the floor to Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı.

“The Work Cannot Be Accomplished by Opening a Hundred-Some Law Schools”

Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı, who started his speech by stating that the room we are in has a very historical importance for him, stated that he became an associate professor by giving his associate professorship exam and lecture in this hall, and that this hall has a special place for him beyond the historical meaning it carries. Stating that this chair has been in the basic structure of İstanbul University since the tradition of Darülfünun, Prof. Dr. Ortaylı stated that philosophy education has been given here since the establishment of Darülfünun. While the university reforms had a positive impact on some departments, Prof. Dr. Ortaylı underlined that the reforms of the reign of Abdülhamit could not achieve the desired development, especially in the field of law. He stated that the reason why this development was not achieved was that institutions such as İstanbul University and Ankara University could not support these reforms in terms of jurisprudence.

“You Can't Understand Your Present Situation When You Do the Past Unfair”

Expressing that it is unfair for the Ottoman society to comment that the Ottoman society is unfamiliar with the world of jurisprudence and ideas brought by higher education, Prof. Dr. Ortaylı said, "If you are unfair to the past, you cannot understand your present situation.” He stated that this is a place that teaches all kinds of science and that there is an understanding at this level of education, and that the relationship between the public and the academy is limited, just like in Europe and the Middle Ages Islamic world. For this reason, he said, two different people's interpretations of events are different.

“Some Branches of İstanbul University Really Needed Reform”

Prof. Dr. Ortaylı, who stated that the idea of modernizing İstanbul University was put forward in 1933, drew attention to the conflict on this issue and underlined that although the discussions revolved around the quality of the current education, both political-social criticisms were wrong. Prof. Dr. Ortaylı said "Some branches of İstanbul University really needed reform" and emphasized that some branches should be preserved, and others should remain as they are.

At the end of the German Tradition seminar at İstanbul University, which was held in the light of the information given by Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı about the history of İstanbul University, Prof. Dr. Ortaylı answered the questions of the students and ended the session.