Geometry and Atatürk

Greetings,

Beautiful people with free minds and free consciences.

Continuing to look through the mirror of art...

What appears to us today through the mirror of art is,

Geometry and ATATÜRK

“Let no one ignorant of geometry enter”

The phrase inscribed on the door of Plato’s Academy.

Could this phrase be significant not only because geometry is the science of forms, but because it demonstrates the essential link between mathematics and philosophy?

Undoubtedly, it is possible.

It is important in terms of the rational comprehension of nature and the universe, which become experienceable through the senses, and the ability to represent them through figures that symbolize their own symbolic language in an abstractable state within an integrated order based on the principles of reason. This is because philosophy assigns an ontological meaning to this mathematical symbolic language.

I can hear you saying, 'Professor Abidin, you have overwhelmed us with concepts right at the beginning of the article...'

But let's say, shall we, that being overwhelmed by concepts is a good thing?

We already have...

The phrase 'Let no one ignorant of geometry enter' can have two fundamental messages.

The first is, in a way everyone can understand, that those who do not possess a certain level of knowledge in this field cannot enter.

The second is the message that while not everyone can understand it, those who are at a level to intuitively grasp the matter mentally and intellectually can comprehend it.

In this message, it is conveyed that philosophy is not about momentary thoughts and speculations regarding them, but rather about the power of abstraction gained through continuous and disciplined intellectual activity, and thus the message that reason can be shaped in this direction. In this way, geometry, with the deep layers of meaning it contains, will shape the flow of our lives not through routines fed by the experience of our senses, but through the most powerful mental exercise of a mind that learns from ideas, that is, from thoughts. 

You are saying, 'Professor, you've gone on too long again'... I know, but these things cannot be done without going into detail...

So, it turns out that just thinking is not enough...

What else is needed? One must make thought visible; for that, one must first imagine, and then make what we have imagined visible through its own symbolic language. 

Well, Professor, let's say we have done all of this...

Aren't we just doing it for ourselves?

I think you've already forgotten what was written at the door...

What did it say?

“Let no one enter who does not know geometry”

Could I ever forget, my dear friends?

Now we have arrived at geometry and our Great Leader ATATÜRK.

As you know, ATATÜRK wrote a geometry book in 1936, which was published in 1937. The generally accepted view regarding the book is that it was written by ATATÜRK for the purpose of Turkifying the foreign terms used in geometry. Agop Dilaçar describes the writing of the book as follows; “One day in the autumn of 1936, Atatürk sent me, along with his Chief of Staff Süreyya Anderiman, to the Hachette Bookstore in Beyoğlu to purchase copies of French geometry books that we deemed appropriate. After these were reviewed with Atatürk, the general outline of the geometry book to be written was drawn up. After a while, I left, and during the winter months, Atatürk worked on this piece of work. The booklet you have in your hands is the product of this effort.” 

In this 44-page book, many terms such as angle (zaviye), plus (zait), divided by (taksim), vertical (şakuli), and base (kaide) began to be used.

I am of the opinion that the fact that he designed and wrote such an important reference book just two years before his death, while struggling with illnesses and the problems of the country and the world—a man who did nothing for himself and bequeathed everything to his nation—can be described as nothing other than a reflection of an extraordinary will.

Well, Professor, I can almost hear you saying, 'Since you wrote this article, you must know something.'

You tried to explain Plato, his school, the inscription at the school's entrance, and what that inscription meant to convey, but...

You are telling me to get to the point...

So, what is written at the entrance of the Republic of ATATÜRK?

“For everything in the world, for civilization, for life, for success, the truest guide is science and knowledge.” 

Professor Abidin, are you saying that the inscription has been erased and is gone...

It cannot be erased, it will not be erased; do you know why? 

Because in these lands, the teachers of Mustafa Kemal will write it again and again, and that is why it will not be erased.

Plato's Academy trained philosophers who would ensure that the building blocks of human civilization were woven with reason, and it changed the course of human history.

It was written on the door of his school that those who do not know geometry cannot enter. 

2,500 years later, Gazi Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK wrote a geometry textbook so that the Turkish nation could enter this school and be enlightened by science, art, and philosophy. 

Do you know why?

Because he saw his homeland as a school and his nation as his children, that is why.

How happy are those who are teachers in this school.

I hope my message has been received...

Until our next meeting, goodbye for now; now and always, breathe with art, stay with art. 

(Actually, I was going to write about the relationship between geometry and the art of painting today, but then ATATÜRK and his Geometry Book came to mind. I am glad they did. This gave me the chance to reflect on his genius once again.)