THE EFFECT OF THESSALONIKI INTELLECTUAL MILIEU ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TURKISH SOCIOLOGY

Abstract

Sociology, a discipline nearly 200 years old, dates back to 1914. The year that sociology was started to be taught in Darulfunun is very significant for the institutionalization of sociology. However, sociological thought began penetrating the Ottoman world with the Tanzimat Era. Sociology, which was seen as an important tool in the solution of social problems in the disintegration of the Empire, was quickly adopted; circles of intellectuals that adopted different sociological perspectives emerged. Among these circles, the group formed in Thessaloniki between 1910 and 1912 made important contributions to the emergence of the discipline of sociology in terms of methodical knowledge production about society. Although Thessaloniki was a significant place in the development of Turkish sociological thought, it has not been adequately discussed. In this context, the study first reveals the social, economic, and political features that make Thessaloniki an intellectual center, discusses the intellectual milieu in the city, and then focuses on the sociological interest of The Thessaloniki Circle, and lastly evaluates the sociological thoughts that emerged in this context.