Abstract:

Famous Greek philosopher Plato is a figure who takes an important place not only in the history of philosophy but also in Turkish literature and history of Islamic mysticism and regarded among popular representatives of mind and wisdom in general. Besides, recollections, references and assertions about Plato seen in either poetic or prose works which our poets and authors have produced for centuries are not homogeneous; they vary. In this study, how the above-mentioned philosopher was received by Turkish scholars, poets and authors will be analyzed by means of examples selected; following the introduction part, a short prose translation produced about some sayings of Plato was introduced and presented. The nineteenth century Ottoman scholar, Mehmed Ali Fethî translated some advices of Plato which he found valuable in terms of Islamic and humanistic aspects into Turkish under the name of “Terceme-i Nesâyih-ı Eflâtûn-ı İlâhî”; this booklet was printed and published with Arabic letters posthumuously. In this part which constitutes the main issue of our writing, information was given about life and works of translator; then both the original form translated with new letters and the form translated into today's Turkish of the said work were presented

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