From Russia to Turkey : an intellectual biography of Sadri Maksudi Arsal (1878-1957)

Abstract

The basic aim of this study is to present an intellectual biography of Sadri Maksudî Arsal (1878-1957). To accomplish this task the present study is divided into two main parts. The first part presents an essential biography, presented in chronological order. Its object is to illuminate the life of Sadri Maksudî, his intellectual development and his activities by revealing his time as well as the major developments within them. The second part analyzes Sadri Maksudî’s views on a variety of matters and subjects, particularly nationalism, history, linguistics, and law, though he seems to also have come up with interesting ideas on other issues. Sadri Maksudî’s beliefs about nationalism are explored both on their own and by taking into consideration historical and contemporary analyses on the issue. While his thoughts on linguistics are analyzed via the framework of the linguistic reformation in the Republic of Turkey, his perspectives about history and law are basically analyzed in terms of the major developments in these areas and the methodologies used by Sadri Maksudî.