Situating islamic existentialism in Turkey: key existentialist concepts in Sezai Karakoç’s works

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buir.advisorJust, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorÇitler, Gözde
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-16T05:45:57Z
dc.date.available2022-09-16T05:45:57Z
dc.date.copyright2022-09
dc.date.issued2022-09
dc.date.submitted2022-09-19
dc.descriptionCataloged from PDF version of article.en_US
dc.descriptionThesis (Ph.D.): Bilkent University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University, 2022.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 301-330).en_US
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this dissertation is to put forward an analytical account that Sezai Karakoç, a conservative Muslim intellectual, author, and one of the founders of the Second New movement in Turkish poetry, created a sui generis characterisation of what this study calls Islamic existentialism in Turkey. An important literary figure of the 20th century, Karakoç utilises the existentialist concepts of death, freedom, authenticity, and isolation while following the Islamic and Sufistic doctrines since he preoccupied himself with the same philosophical questions existentialism asks and attempted to find their answers from a different angle and source, that was Islam. In this study, it is argued that Karakoc professes Islamic existentialism, primarily by stating that it is imperative to (i) overcome the anguish and despair of this life by accepting the reality of death and being willing to move past it to be reunited with Allah as the only Creator; (ii) pursue an authentic life by being a true believer, (iii) achieve the ultimate freedom-seeking for the divine love and by abiding by Islamic principles and rules heralded by the prophets, and (iv) transform the individual’s alienation by attempting to become a soldier of resurrection within Karakoç’s doctrine of the resurrection. While this study does not argue that Karakoç is an existentialist, it does argue that existentialism and its core concepts are resonated in his worldview and thoughts on what a true individual is, how to live an authentic and honest life, how to create the ultimate, Islamic, civilisation, and eventually how to unite with God as a sincere believer. This dissertation aims to contribute to the literature by conceptualising Karakoç’s doctrine of resurrection, encompassing the four concepts of existentialism and the teachings of Islam, which permeated his poems, essays, and worldview as such.en_US
dc.description.provenanceSubmitted by Betül Özen (ozen@bilkent.edu.tr) on 2022-09-16T05:45:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 B161294.pdf: 2330023 bytes, checksum: ce99d14b043a08a4c7d7a7a49d152ee5 (MD5)en
dc.description.provenanceMade available in DSpace on 2022-09-16T05:45:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 B161294.pdf: 2330023 bytes, checksum: ce99d14b043a08a4c7d7a7a49d152ee5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2022-09en
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Gözde Çitleren_US
dc.format.extentix, 330 leaves ; 30 cm.en_US
dc.identifier.itemidB161294
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11693/110516
dc.language.isoEnglishen_US
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessen_US
dc.subjectIslamic existentialismen_US
dc.subjectDeathen_US
dc.subjectFreedomen_US
dc.subjectAuthenticityen_US
dc.subjectAlienationen_US
dc.subjectSecond new poetryen_US
dc.subjectSezai Karakoçen_US
dc.titleSituating islamic existentialism in Turkey: key existentialist concepts in Sezai Karakoç’s worksen_US
dc.title.alternativeTürkiye’de islami varoluşçuluk: Sezai Karakoç’un eserlerinde varoluşçu kavramlaren_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplinePolitical Science
thesis.degree.grantorBilkent University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.namePh.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

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