AHMED HAMDI TANPINAR’S OPINIONS ABOUT TURKISH MUSLIM CIVILIZATION

Abstract

Ahmed Hamdi Tanpinar‘s (1901–1962) worldview was forming in the 10th–20th years of the tempestuous 20th century, during the years of the break-down of the Ottoman Empire and creation and development of a new state – Republic of Turkey. With his sense of the world, we may say, he is both, the son of the Republic, and one of its intellectual builders, as his generation, in general, in the new epoch played a great role in the formation of the national ideology. Tanpinar, who knew Turkish, Arabian-Persian and European literature, and history of culture in general, in his works or literary-critical articles often discourses upon Turkish Moslem civilization from the point of view of direct contact, familiarization and adoption of the Western civilization, its acquirements and values. In opinion of the writer, taking into account his homeland‘s history, the synthesis of the cultures is an inevitable reality. In this complicated process, the main thing is not to forget the national identity. He often remembers the heroes, events, places, the Turkish society is proud of. In this way he tries to strengthen the sense of national dignity and identity in his readers. A.H. Tanpinar‘s opinions are valuable as the intellectual heritage, which is highly important in the Turkish society even today.