The reflections of Tanzimat i̇ntellectual: The modernization front of Ahmet Cevdet Pasha

Social development and variation an inevitable process for all of the societies.This process has been determined by modernization ideology since araound 18th century and it seems that it will continue to be determined with its intellectual and systematic all structure which it produces.Today, modernization for the reasons of what it marked out didnt come true and that it is the root of many problems we have such as ecological problems has been criticized from many aspects. Modernization has been identified again within the frame of all these critics. All of these identifications have the characteristics of a paradigm offering a point of view to us and become vailid as long as used. After all, modernity is actualized not as reading West by out of west but as a new focus adjustment, we can call this as altered modernization. The Ottoman, as it was not a stable society, was influenced by the great transformation, which europe experienced. Especially, after the defeats faced with in 17th and 18th centuries, many reforms were made to correct some deformations occuring in the early Kanun-name (literally: book of law). Only in 19th century,some comprehensive reforms began to be made as different from the reforms belonging to previous centuries in order to revive a government, which has a survival problem and in 1839 the Edict of Gülhane was published. The Tanzimat period, which is an important turning point in our history of modernization with this ferman's declaration, has begun. According to the established opinion, starting with external pressure the main characteristic of Tanzimat reform era is Western establishments and law to Ottoman. This concept, which does not consider internal developments together with external causes, alters the mind world of the actors who realized the reforms during the period. When Tanzimat reform era is observed thoroughly, it is seen that the situation is not like that. The intellectuals of Tanzimat reform era are fed with different resources, and this situation reflects on the era. One of the statesman shapin Tanzimat reform era is Ahmet Cevdet Pasha. Pasha is an important statesman having sophisticated personality who has works in many fields such as law, history, linguistics, religions, who is sophisticated and who passed from science to bureaucracy. Ahmet Cevdet Pasha became the wanted man of the era because of his knowledge and enabled the era to be systematized by filling in the blanks. Ahmet Cevdet Pasha made a new reading of modernity with his knowledge and actions he led. For this reason, he is a precious resource of our intellectual history. Key Words : Modernization, Reform, Tanzimat, Conservatism,Tradition