Atatürk’s legacy, Uğur Mumcu’s words, and intellectual comfort

It is the saying of the indomitable and incorruptible journalist, the martyr of the Republic Revolution, and Kuvayı Milliyeci (National Forces member) Uğur Mumcu: "One cannot have an opinion without having knowledge." 

This statement by Uğur Mumcu is valid not only in the context of journalism or the plane of political polemics, but also as a scientific method in academia. Because whether it is ideological, reflects political economy preferences, or follows a scientific curiosity in search of an answer to a problem, every judgment and every conviction is expected to be backed by strong thought, a logical framework, and scientific foundations. 

In Turkish universities, which have grown in quantity but weakened significantly in quality in recent years, it is a frequently encountered situation—especially in the social sciences—for opinions not based on knowledge to come to the fore. 

The prominence of absolute prejudices and preconceived notions, and the expression of sharp, assertive, and grand statements without any basis, not only render doubt, skepticism, scientific curiosity, scientific effort, scientific evidence, labor, and diligence meaningless, unnecessary, and dysfunctional, but also pave the way for conspiracy theories. 

It must be admitted that this preference and attitude offer a comfortable space. It also makes it easier to be popular and attract attention. 

Because it provides a strong ground for conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories have many buyers and enthusiasts, and in every camp. Whether they are political Islamists or nationalists, liberals or leftists, conspiracy theories have a widespread following. 

Because there is no need to cite sources, present evidence, or list strong logical, political, historical, or scientific foundations. Stating it (one might even call it making it up) is enough. 

Because it is a comfortable, risk-free area. It is not up to the defender to prove what is being defended. It is up to those who oppose it to prove the contrary. 

Because since the entire accumulation of humanity, history, class struggles, national contradictions, scientific developments, geographical discoveries, and technological breakthroughs are explained in three words or two phrases, and since it requires no logical ground or scientific reference, all history, all labor, and all knowledge can be reduced to trash in an instant. The job of those trying to prove the opposite is difficult, truly difficult. It is harder than splitting the atom or making a camel jump over a ditch. 

Because this understanding, which views ideological struggle, political struggle, and class struggle as unnecessary, useless, and far from achieving results, condemns people to defeat from the very beginning. 

Those who are curious know that in universities, our young people and students (I call my students my precious ones) who want to do postgraduate work (master's and doctorate) are immediately asked the following questions:

What are the research questions of the proposed, written, defended, and voiced thesis, and what is its problem statement? Is there a question it seeks an answer to, or a problem or issue it wants to contribute to the solution of? 

While writing the thesis, which theoretical framework will it be based on? 

What is the hypothesis, or assumption, of the thesis? By which method, that is, which methodology, will the thesis be written? 

After these questions are answered, it is time to answer the following questions.

Is the subject of the thesis to be written original? 

Is the bibliography to be used in the thesis current and new? 

Is the perspective, theoretical basis, method, and question in the thesis different? 

After all these stages, the thesis is written, and the findings reached and the conclusion arrived at at the end of the thesis are evaluated again in light of these questions. 

In short, whether it is an ideological struggle or a scientific activity, when one strays from reason and science, the destination is clear. The result is frustration and defeat. 

That is why the great savior Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, when addressing the youth and his followers, said, "My spiritual legacy is science and reason."