Abstract:

Ziya Gokalp published an article titled “New Life and New Values” in Genc Kalemler (Young Pens) Journal in 1911. The basic idea of Gokalp in this article was to create a new Turkish civilization by making social reforms. But in 1918, it was seen that Gokalp changed some of his old ideas. He expressed his ideas with “national life” conceptualization instead of “new life” no more. Gokalp has given up the idea of creating a Turkish civilization which was the main target in 1911. Distinguishing between culture and civilization, he has entered into a quest for synthesis between Turkish culture and western civilization. It is my opinion that a crisis which he has lived during his youth and ended up with suicide had a significant effect on this change. In this article, I will primarily try to analyze the changing thoughts of Gokalp and then justify this change by his youth crisis.

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