Pseudoscience Debate in the Ottomans: The Case of Spiritualism (1910)

Tarık Tuna Gözütok

Makale detayları

Pseudoscience Debate in the Ottomans: The Case of Spiritualism (1910)

Yazarlar:

Tarık Tuna Gözütok

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Dergi:

Kaygı. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 1, pp.61-87

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

3/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001286524

pISSN:

2645-8950

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 The notion of demarcation problem is often used to distinguish between science and non-science or pseudoscience. Although the origins of the views on the borders of science can be traced as far back as to Aristotle, their systematic discussion gained momentum in the mid-twentieth century. However, even before the concept of pseudoscience became widespread even among philosophers of science, certain figures in the Ottoman Empire claimed that the movement of spiritualism called ispirtizmaspiritizma was incompatible with science. In retrospect, the value of these pioneering objections for science is clear. The nature of these important objections, which basically involve a metaphysical opposition, can be subjected to a limited evaluation in terms of the philosophy of science. Before beginning such an analysis, it is necessary to briefly mention the story of the emergence of spiritualism. It may also be useful to mention the introduction of spiritualism to the Ottoman Empire, i.e., the texts introducing this movement, if only to help understand the subject more clearly. After these brief definitions and introduction, I can examine the arguments of four of the Ottoman physicians, namely Kemal Cenap Berksoy, Orhan Tahsin Bey, Nazifi Şerif Nabel and Mazhar Osman Uzman, who argued in their publications in 1910 that spiritualism was not scientific. Finally, the possible reasons behind the foresight of these pioneers will be analyzed from the conceptual perspective of the philosophy of science, taking into account the fallacy of anachronism.

 The notion of demarcation problem is often used to distinguish between science and non-science or pseudoscience. Although the origins of the views on the borders of science can be traced as far back as to Aristotle, their systematic discussion gained momentum in the mid-twentieth century. However, even before the concept of pseudoscience became widespread even among philosophers of science, certain figures in the Ottoman Empire claimed that the movement of spiritualism called ispirtizmaspiritizma was incompatible with science. In retrospect, the value of these pioneering objections for science is clear. The nature of these important objections, which basically involve a metaphysical opposition, can be subjected to a limited evaluation in terms of the philosophy of science. Before beginning such an analysis, it is necessary to briefly mention the story of the emergence of spiritualism. It may also be useful to mention the introduction of spiritualism to the Ottoman Empire, i.e., the texts introducing this movement, if only to help understand the subject more clearly. After these brief definitions and introduction, I can examine the arguments of four of the Ottoman physicians, namely Kemal Cenap Berksoy, Orhan Tahsin Bey, Nazifi Şerif Nabel and Mazhar Osman Uzman, who argued in their publications in 1910 that spiritualism was not scientific. Finally, the possible reasons behind the foresight of these pioneers will be analyzed from the conceptual perspective of the philosophy of science, taking into account the fallacy of anachronism.

 The notion of demarcation problem is often used to distinguish between science and non-science or pseudoscience. Although the origins of the views on the borders of science can be traced as far back as to Aristotle, their systematic discussion gained momentum in the mid-twentieth century. However, even before the concept of pseudoscience became widespread even among philosophers of science, certain figures in the Ottoman Empire claimed that the movement of spiritualism called ispirtizmaspiritizma was incompatible with science. In retrospect, the value of these pioneering objections for science is clear. The nature of these important objections, which basically involve a metaphysical opposition, can be subjected to a limited evaluation in terms of the philosophy of science. Before beginning such an analysis, it is necessary to briefly mention the story of the emergence of spiritualism. It may also be useful to mention the introduction of spiritualism to the Ottoman Empire, i.e., the texts introducing this movement, if only to help understand the subject more clearly. After these brief definitions and introduction, I can examine the arguments of four of the Ottoman physicians, namely Kemal Cenap Berksoy, Orhan Tahsin Bey, Nazifi Şerif Nabel and Mazhar Osman Uzman, who argued in their publications in 1910 that spiritualism was not scientific. Finally, the possible reasons behind the foresight of these pioneers will be analyzed from the conceptual perspective of the philosophy of science, taking into account the fallacy of anachronism.

 Bilim ile bilim dışı ya da sözdebilimsahte-bilim arasındaki ayırımı tespit edebilmek adına çoğunlukla sınır belirleme problemine başvurulmuştur. Bilimin sınırlarına dair görüşlerin kökenleri her ne kadar Aristotelese dayandırılabilse de sistematik bir biçimde tartışılması XX. yüzyılın ortalarında hız kazanmıştır. Ancak henüz sözdebilim kavramı bilim felsefecileri arasında bile yaygınlaşmadan önce Osmanlılardaki belirli birkaç isim ispirtizmaspiritizma olarak adlandırılan spiritüalizm akımının bilim ile bağdaşamayacağını iddia etmişlerdir. Günümüzden geçmişe bakınca bahsi geçen öncü itirazların bilim açısından değerleri anlaşılmaktadır. Temelde metafiziksel bir karşı duruş içeren bu önemi haiz itirazların mahiyeti bilim felsefesi açısından kısıtlı bir değerlendirilmeye tabi tutulacaktır. Bu türden bir analize başlamadan önce spiritüalizmin ortaya çıkış hikayesinden kısaca bahsedilecektir. Ayrıca bu akımı Osmanlılarda tanıtan metinlere, sadece konunun daha net anlaşılmasına yardımcı olması bakımdan değinilecektir. Bu kısa tanımların ve girişin ardından spiritüalizmin bilimsel olmadığını 1910 yılındaki yayınlarında savunan Osmanlı hekimlerinden dördünün yani Kemal Cenap Berksoy, Orhan Tahsin Bey, Nazifi Şerif Nabel ve Mazhar Osman Uzmanın argümanları incelenecektir. Son olarak, bahsi geçen öncü isimlerin öngörülerinin ardında yatan muhtemel nedenler, anakronizm yanılgısını hesaba katarak, bilim felsefesinin kavramsal perspektifinden irdelenecektir.

Makale detayları

Pseudoscience Debate in the Ottomans: The Case of Spiritualism (1910)

Yazarlar:

Tarık Tuna Gözütok

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Dergi:

Kaygı. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 1, pp.61-87

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

3/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001286524

pISSN:

2645-8950

Spiritualism

Ottoman Empire

pseudoscience

demarcation problem

parapsychology

Spiritüalizm

Osmanlı Devleti

sınır belirleme problemi

sözdebilim

parapsiloji

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Tarık Tuna Gözütok

Yayıncı: Bursa Uludağ University

Dergi: Kaygı. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 1, pp.61-87

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 3/2023

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001286524

pISSN: 2645-8950

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Tarık Tuna Gözütok

Yayıncı:

Bursa Uludağ University

Dergi:

Kaygı. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi Felsefe Dergisi Vol.22 Issue 1, pp.61-87

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

3/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001286524

pISSN:

2645-8950