Özet:

One of the eminent researchers in the field of Ottoman economic thought, Sabri F. Ülgener attempted to understand, mainly drawing upon the Weberian theory, why capitalism did not emerge in the Ottoman Empire and society. While Weber focuses on Protestant ethics as the predominant factor in explaining the emergence of modern capitalism in Europe; Ülgener looks for the traces of a quasi-Protestant ethics in the Ottoman society with an emphasis on its economic mentality. Consequently, he concludes that the Ottoman society failed to develop such mentality.  In his studies on economic mentality, Ülgener catches the attention of researchers particularly with his methodology, resources and concepts. He drew upon the interpretive method, and made use of literary genres comprising the ahlâk (ethics) and nasihat (advice) literatures as well as poetry of the period, rather thanarchivalmaterials.Asfarastheconceptsareconcerned,heextensivelyusedWesternconceptssuchas rationality and Middle Ages, while he also adopted notions such as economic ethics-economic mentality, to which he himself lent new meanings.  The present study is intended to present a review of Ülgener’s works on economic mentality. It dis- cusses from a critical point of view his resources and concepts as well as the consistency and accuracy of his conclusions. 

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