Adnan Adıvar's historiography of science: The relationship between science and culture

This study examines the historiography of science by Adnan Adıvar, one of the founding figures of modern Turkey, focusing on how he conceptualized the relationship between science and culture. The research primarily seeks to analyze how Adıvar positioned scientific thought as both a universal human activity and a fundamental element of civilization, and how this perspective was reflected in his intellectual endeavors The institutionalization process of the history of science as a discipline, both globally and in Turkey, is explored to situate Adıvar's place within this process. Framed by his concepts of "New Humanism" and the "Republic of Knowledge," his views on the relationship between science and culture are evaluated. His conception of the ideal scientist is also examined. The study primarily utilizes Adıvar's major works such as Tarih Boyunca İlim ve Din and Osmanlı Türklerinde İlim alongside his newspaper articles as primary sources. These texts are analyzed using the qualitative method of textual analysis. To determine Adıvar's intellectual framework and his position within the international community of science historians, his writings are compared with those of thinkers such as George Sarton, Bertrand Russell, and Alfred North Whitehead, with whom he was in dialogue or intellectually engaged. Furthermore, comparisons with other prominent Turkish historians of science, such as Aydın Sayılı, are made to highlight Adıvar's originality. In conclusion, this study argues that Adıvar's historiography of science is defined by a critical approach aimed at building a bridge between scientific knowledge and cultural identity. His work emerges as a cultural project shaped by a profound sense of public responsibility, positioning Adıvar in a foundational role in the history of modern Turkish intellectual thought.