Pioneering female philosopher in Turkey: The case of Bedia Akarsu

Bedia Akarsu, who holds the title of the first female Professor of Philosophy at Istanbul University, is among the significant philosophers raised during the Republican era, whose ideas and life reflect the influences of her time. In the first chapter of our thesis, we comprehensively examine Akarsu's life and works, while in the second chapter, we focus on her understanding of philosophy. We evaluate Akarsu's contributions to philosophy, the thinkers who influenced her, and her views within the framework of her philosophical studies. The third chapter addresses Akarsu's relationship with language and culture, her approach to the philosophy of language, the relationship between language and philosophy, and the cultural role of language. Akarsu's philosophical understanding encompasses language, culture, and moral philosophy, while enlightened, contemporary, Atatürkist thoughts and ideologies shape her philosophical perspective. Akarsu has inspired society with her knowledge and contributions in the field of philosophy through her writings. She was a pioneer in the Turkishization of philosophical terms, making significant contributions to the field with her "Dictionary of Philosophical Terms." In the field of moral philosophy. she evaluated her thoughts on ethics within the framework of Kant's ideas. Regarding language and culture, she believed that language should be purified from foreign influences and intertwined with the culture to which it belongs. We have aimed to limit our study to Akarsu's philosophical views in the fields of language and ethics. Akarsu stands out as a pioneering female philosopher in Turkey who has illuminated the development of philosophy with her human rights-focused and socially sensitive thoughts.