Moral Educators and Moral Education in the Late Ottoman Period: Tradition and Innovation in a Changing Society

Moral Educators and Moral Education in the Late Ottoman Period

In the late Ottoman Empire, as the influence of the West led to social and cultural transformations, moral education became a crucial topic of debate. During this period, scholars and intellectuals who sought to preserve the traditional moral understanding clashed with new ideas coming from the West. Moral education aimed to contribute to the moral development of individuals and society, serving as a cornerstone of Ottoman society.

During this time, the influence of Western thought challenged traditional moral understanding with its emphasis on individual freedom, reason, and science. Traditional scholars defended moral principles based on Islam, while reformist intellectuals embraced liberal ideas from the West. This conflict initiated a significant transformation process within Ottoman society.

The goals of moral education were to nurture individuals as honest, conscientious, responsible, and virtuous citizens, to ensure societal harmony, and to spread Islamic morality. Moral education was carried out by various institutions, including families, madrasas, mosques, Sufi orders, and the state. Family played the most vital role in a child's initial moral education. Madrasas, on the other hand, were institutions that taught both religious sciences and moral principles.

Important figures emerged during this period in the field of moral education. Some of them are:

• Şemseddin Sami: A prominent scholar and writer of the late Ottoman period, Sami questioned the traditional moral understanding under the influence of the West. In his dictionary "Kamus-ı Türki", Sami addressed moral concepts and laid the foundation for a modern moral understanding.
• İbrahim Hakkı Hazretleri: A Sufi thinker, Hakkı Hazretleri linked moral education to the spiritual development of the individual. In his work "Marifetname", he emphasized the need for individuals to struggle against their own ego and live a virtuous life.
• Mehmed Akif Ersoy: Our national poet, Akif, produced works emphasizing the importance of national morality. In his poems, "Safahat", he defended the fundamental principles of Islamic morality and called on the Turkish nation to adhere to spiritual values.

Moral Educators and Moral Education in the Late Ottoman Period is a significant topic for understanding the changing structure of Ottoman society and the evolution of moral values. During this period, the questioning of traditional moral understanding and the emergence of new moral values under the influence of the West led to profound transformations in Ottoman society.

Ottoman moral education, late Ottoman Empire, moral educators, traditional morality, modern morality, Islamic morality, Western influence, Şemseddin Sami, İbrahim Hakkı Hazretleri, Mehmed Akif Ersoy