Intellect in Classical Turkish poetry

The intellect distinguishes humans from other living beings. Humans derive meaning of their existence through their intellect, thinking, applying, and critiquing with it. Hence, the nature of the intellect is a principal research subject in various fields, primarily philosophy, theology, and mysticism. Classical Turkish poetry, a highly intellectual literary activity, thrived across a vast geography from the 13th to the 19th century. It is a significant literary endeavor that brought together people with different cultures, professions, temperaments, and worldviews under its umbrella. However, the treatment of the intellect in Classical Turkish poetry appears to be a subject that has not been extensively studied before. Therefore, the exploration of the intellect in Classical Turkish poetry became the intriguing point that inspired this study. This work investigates how the intellect is addressed in Classical Turkish poetry. The intellect has been initially addressed conceptually and from the perspective of various disciplines. Later, as references to the functions of the intellect and its relationship with love are frequently found in the texts of Classical Turkish poetry, the intellect has been examined in terms of its functions and its relationship with love. When examined in terms of function, it has been observed that the intellect is considered as both deductive and intuitive. As for its relationship with love, the intellect appears to be helpless in the face of love. In the conclusion section, the varying evaluations of the intellect based on its usage purpose and context are discussed. Keywords: Intellect in Classical Turkish Poetry, Classical Turkish poetry, intellect, Turkish poetry, functions of the intellect, love and intellect.