Possibility of new language in Türkiye, universities and civic sphere

Every civilization produces its own distinctive way of seeing life and humanity. This perspective is not confined to abstract principles or beliefs alone; rather, it constitutes a comprehensive universe of meaning that is nourished by a world of values, engages with everyday life, and permeates institutions, spaces and social relations. From conceptions of education and visions of law to the architecture of cities and the forms of human interaction, this universe becomes visible and livable only through the forms that carry it. Forms are the mode of speech of a civilization; in other words, they are the language a civilization uses in daily life. For this reason, the issue is not merely what we think, but rather through which forms our thinking is brought to life. A civilization remains alive as long as it can produce forms nourished by its own values. When this capacity for production comes to a halt, what remains is the preservation of aesthetic elements from the past, the exhibition of memories or the nostalgic representation of a historical grandeur. Yet civilization is not something to be kept alive in a museum; it is a dynamic structure that must be continually regenerated in the street, the school, the institution, the city and the mind.

Life demands forms. When societies are unable to generate their own forms, the spheres of life are filled by the language and values of other civilizations. This is not merely a matter of architectural taste or cultural preference. The ways in which individuals perceive themselves, society, and the world are also shaped through these forms. Over time, what counts as “natural” behavior, which attitudes are deemed “reasonable,” and which ideas are considered “scientific” are defined within this dominant language.