Diyanet İlmi Dergi

Abstract

Babanzade Ahmed Naim was an intellectual figure who, considering the period in which he lived, was well-acquainted with the issues of both Islamic and Western philosophy and had grasped the fundamental principles of both intellectual traditions. During the final years of the Ottoman State (1914- 1919) and the early years of the Republic (1922-1933), he taught philosophy, metaphysics, psychology, and logic at the Faculty of Letters at Darulfunun. One of his most significant works, The Foundations of Islamic Ethics, holds particular importance because it presents that religion is essential to justify morality. He argued that morality must be grounded in religion; however, this does not imply a disregard for reason. On the contrary, religion can be considered alongside reasoning processes in determining moral truths. In Islamic thought, reason is regarded as a mechanism capable of comprehending and applying moral principles, and the individual fulfills moral responsibilities by embracing the commands and prohibitions of revelation under the guidance of reason. In this regard, Babanzade argues that even Kant’s deontological ethics, which he considers the most coherent among philosophical theories, fails to ground a universal moral law. In contrast, religion-based ethics not only sets abstract theoretical goals but also provides a superior moral framework by effectively integrating these ethical principles into practical life. In this study, Babanzade’s understanding of ethics will be examined within the framework of the relationship between religion and philosophy, and how ethics can be supported by both rational and religious foundations will be analyzed.