Transcending The Imperial Concept of “Civilization”: Recalling The Concept of al-ʿUmrān

Yıl 2021, Sayı: 12, 377 - 402, 30.06.2021

Haldun Karahanlı

https://doi.org/10.47502/mizan.862043

Öz

The concept of “civilization” is extremely problematic, confusing, and misleading. First, the concept of “civilization” is very problematic because it originated as part of the imperial process in which the West invaded, controlled and looted the rest of the world. Furthermore, the concept cannot be isolated from its imperialist function, because its normative baggage is always present either explicitly or implicitly. Second, the concept of “civilization” is so confusing because of its many conceptualizations across space and time that are treated as if standalone, mutually exclusive, and categorically exhaustive. Third, the concept of “civilization” is ultimately misleading because it is subjective and it is used in many different ways, even in its origin countries, leading to an unsolvable oscillation in meanings and semantic fields. Therefore, it is imperative to transcend this distorted, or even dead, concept. This paper argues that the concept of “al-ʿumrān” may be a very possible alternative. However, it faces many challenges to be viable.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Civilization, Al-ʿumrān, Civilization Theories, Imperialism, Ibn Khaldun

Teşekkür

I deeply thank Dr. Ahmad Atif Ahmad; Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat; Dr. Mazen Hashem; Dr. Mohammad Moussa; and Dr. Kelly Clark for their comments and critique that allowed the development of this article.

Emperyalizmin “Medeniyet” Kavramını Aşmak İçin Umran Kavramına Yeniden Yönelmek

Öz

“Medeniyet” sorunlu, kafa karıştırıcı ve yanlış anlaşılmalara yol açabilen bir kavramdır. Öncelikle, “medeniyet” kavramı, Batı’nın geri kalan coğrafyaları işgal ve yağmaya tabi tuttuğu sömürgecilik asrına dayanan kökeni itibariyle sorunludur. Bu bağlamda mevzubahis kavram ister doğrudan isterse de dolaylı olarak telkin ettiği normatif yargılarla geçmiş devirlerde hizmet etmiş olduğu emperyalizmden ayrı düşünülemez. İkinci olarak “medeniyet” kavramı çok farklı zaman ve mekanlarda birbirine bazen zıt bazen ise benzer anlamlarla kullanılagelmiş olması hasebiyle kafa karıştırıcıdır. Üçüncü olaraksa “medeniyet” kavramının, meydana çıktığı ülkelerde dahi öznel tanımlarla çok farklı anlam alanlarında kullanımı neticesinde yanlış anlaşılmalara neden olabilen bir kavram olduğu göz önüne alınmalıdır. Bu sorunlara binaen, bu çarpık -ve hatta ölü- kavramın aşılmasının bir gereklilik olduğu görülecektir. Bu makale “umran” kavramını medeniyetten çok daha elverişli bir alternatif olarak teklif eder; ancak teklif olunan değişimin gerçekleşmesinin birçok şartın zorlanmasına bağlı olduğunu teslim etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Medeniyet, Umran, Medeniyet Teorileri, Emperyalizm, İbn-i Haldun

Kaynakça

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