Philosophy Happens in the Moment, as Does Its Definition
The Great Unseen Problems
Humanity’s greatest problem is the one it does not see as great: the understanding of concepts, or in other words, the correct use of language. Some may argue that the real issues are housing, security, or income distribution. However, the “human” aspect of these problems, like all problems, is conceptual. Our existence beyond our animalistic and physical being lies in language, which both facilitates and victimizes us.
Nationalism and Being Coded by Concepts
Like many young Turks, I was raised as a nationalist. I believed in it so deeply that until the Internet changed my life, I was busy making plans to establish the great Turkish nation. When I read my old diary, I found that I had created an entirely new Turkish language I could no longer understand, imagining a pure race and concepts that would rule the world—until I realized that Turks, nationalists, and reality itself were not as I had thought.
The Coded Human and the Cleansing of Lies
“Turk” was a concept I pursued, just as all people are coded with thousands of concepts. I was programmed in a particular way, and it was impossible to be human without being coded. After all, as children, we had to grow up with “lying” fairy tales. Without these lies, we would have gotten into trouble, even harming our most valuable asset—our mothers. These lies were necessary, but at some point, they needed to be cleared out. They were not filth but a form of preservation, and humans needed to be opened up.
The Conceptual Impact of the Internet
The Internet, too, was a concept—just like “Turk”—but at least at the time, politicians had not yet seized control of it. The Internet was too vast to be manipulated and redefined. I began searching for what else could be wrong beyond the definition of “Turk” that I had been taught. Eventually, I realized that all concepts were flawed. Because all concepts are flawed, the title of this piece is “historical philosophy”—a speculation of the moment.
The History of Conceptual Debate
Let’s begin by discussing the history of conceptual debate and how the greatest problems grow into real issues precisely because they are not recognized as such. The first philosophers emerged in all civilizations as those who sought to know better. Everyone questions where their knowledge comes from, but those who are truly honest acknowledge the need to distinguish between what is knowledge and what is not. When honesty is valued and can defend itself, it becomes a tradition, leading to what we call the “philosophical” tradition.
The Emergence of Philosophy in Greece
Why did this tradition of seeking better knowledge emerge specifically in Greece? Because it was there that the need for verifiable claims, similar to our modern understanding of knowledge, was first felt. Before that, all narratives were considered knowledge simply because they existed as stories, and that was enough for people—especially when these narratives had a structured form and served a practical purpose. In other words, knowledge had a different function; it was more social and reassuring.
The Relationship Between Words and Reality
We do not know exactly how it started, but someone must have refused to be satisfied with the stories and asked, “How do we know this?” Perhaps it was triggered by the lack of clear definitions for concepts and the dishonesty surrounding them. After all, every person who has faced genuine hardship realizes that words are not reality. Words are merely fragile, symbolic sounds. They work well for pointing to concrete objects but become tragically comical when applied to abstract concepts. If we were not political beings—beings who influence others—we could ignore the tragedy of this. However, because of the political nature of human existence, our global problems today are rooted in this issue.
The Intersection of Language and Politics
To be political—to be able to influence others—was actually the foundation of language. Assigning sounds to objects and turning them into a system through mutual agreement was a political act. Moreover, not just objects but also social relationships and visionary ideas were assigned sounds, which then guided people and led to the formation of civilization. Was the restriction that came with this freedom a cost? Undoubtedly. The open-ended nature of language has taken us from words like “food,” “hunt,” and “weapon” to structuralist analyses.
The Partitioning of Concepts
Governments and interest groups have partitioned words, especially concepts, disrupting the natural evolution of our conceptual memory, which progresses through trial and error. Humanity moves forward while concepts lag behind. It would be convenient if every concept had a single, fixed meaning—it would be simple. But they don’t, and groups that act as if they do use their definitions to influence you. Political powers, in particular, desire fixed meanings to avoid wasting time. One name, one number, one residence—the most powerful authorities seek to confine us to a single profession and home for life. However, concepts—the signs we assign to events in the world—do not work that way. They evolve with the world, and no matter how many definitions you establish, their meaning remains relevant only in the moment of discussion. Because they are still under construction.
