Şerif Mardin Readings

Şerif Mardin... Sociologist, historian, intellectual... An independent and contradictory personality... The owner of discourses that do not easily coincide with any group or environment. Over the years, it has built its own language and a world of depth worth reading, as it is not attracted by any orbit around it.

When we look at Şerif Mardin's works, we first determine how to establish a theoretical framework and then how to ask questions that expand into a methodological accumulation about society. Mardin's systematic criticisms follow a strict methodology. Being both critical, remaining faithful to a methodology, and being able to produce an original "discourse" from there should undoubtedly be considered the ideal framework for social sciences. This is why the books written by Şerif Mardin in different periods present a unity when brought together. In his methodology, Center-Periphery relations, Ideologies, Sociology of Religion, New Ottomans and Young Turks, Turkish Modernization, Culture and Identity problems, Turkish Literature, etc. Topics dominate the headlines. Mardin was able to turn all these topics into a coherent chain of arguments by using his own epistemological premises.

The “map” metaphor is one of the important metaphors of Mardin and is extremely useful in terms of showing how people in Turkey perceive the world according to their own patterns. Mardin creates a "map" of the mental worlds we live in. This is a "society map" that is not drawn with sharp lines. It is a unique “cognitive style”. Here, the facts do not appear as they are, because the society draws a picture quite different from what is seen in its inner world. If we refer to the classical definition of ideology, social realities hide what is visible, but its effect extends much deeper. Ideological and cultural differences are also marked on this map. Reactions, rebellions, introversion, and the emptiness of people and groups who experience a radical rupture are entirely located on this map. In this context, Mardin differs from the existing social scientist type with the importance he attaches to the idea of "emptiness".

Şerif Mardin's works, woven with rich workmanship and mastery, are worth reading and commenting in every respect.



Number of Pages: 315

Year of Printing: 2008


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Doğu Batı Yayınları

Number of Pages: 315

First Print Year: 2008

Language: Turkish