Darülfünun ' da bir felsefe hocası : Mehmet Emin Erişirgil

Abstract

Mehmet Emin Erişirgü (1891-1965) was one of the prominent actors who paved way for a circle of philosophy and thought in the period of republic. His lectures and publications at the university on the one hand, and his publications in the periodicals addressing people on the other were always oriented toward an understanding of contemporary concepts and ideas in his country. Having this approach, he took place among the ones who tried to create an intellectual atmosphere that the Republican generations needed. When one looks at the academic and intellectual life of Mehmet Emin from a holistic perspective, it can be inferred that he always took side with knowing, understanding, interpreting and even compromising universal values with the national ones.Among the philosophers who were the subjects of his writings, lessons and books could be mentioned the ones such as Descartes, Leibniz, Kant, Nietzsche, Boutroux, James, Dewey, Bergson and Socrates. He did not study those philosophers with an interest or methodology of a lecturer who lectured only on the history of philosophy. He tried to derive from each philosopher the thought that the society needed. His studies were aimed at understanding the philosophical foundations of Western civilization and introducing them to Turkey. By knowing, analyzing, questioning the ideology and values on which the Western civilization flourished, he aimed at a Republican Turkey uniting with and even redeveloping those values without being trapped in imitation and alienation.