A philosophical perspective on the Türkiye Century Education Model in a mystical and phenomenological context
Modernity’s objectifying dominance, which alienates humans from their “life-world” (Lebenswelt), has desouled education, turning knowledge into an “unanchored bundle of load” that remains outside of consciousness. This study examines the “personality construction” objective and the “Virtue–Value–Action” cycle of the Türkiye Century Education Model (TCEM) against this mechanical structure on a phenomenological and mystical ground. As a methodological framework, Edmund Husserl’s “epoché” (bracketing) method—which suspends dogmatic assumptions—and Mehmet Bayrakdar’s concept of “transition from habit to consciousness” serve as the foundation. This philosophical ground is synthesized with Yunus Emre’s search for truth symbolized by “knowing oneself,” Mevlânâ’s “perfect human” (İnsan-ı Kâmil) ideal that transforms theoretical knowledge (kal) into lived experience (hâl), and the compass metaphor. The analysis reveals that TCEM’s search for ontological, epistemological, and axiological integrity overlaps with the mystical “return to the essence,” positioning action (praxis) as the manifestation of internal consciousness. However, TCEM, being an institutional framework rather than a philosophical critique, fails to fully reflect the metaphysical integrity present in these thinkers, exhibiting an eclectic character. Crucially, the insufficient emphasis on Nurettin Topçu’s “teacher” (Muallim) ideal—who shapes young souls on an anvil of meaning as the primary constituting subject of education—stands out as a fundamental deficiency. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that for TCEM to transcend technical curriculum reform and become an ontological resurrection, it requires the integration of an existential teacher understanding capable of guiding knowledge into consciousness and morality into action.
Akpınar, B., Özer, B., Oral, B., & Köksalan, B. (2024). Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modelinin program geliştirme ve felsefi düzlemden analizi [Analysis of the Türkiye Century Education Model from curriculum development and philosophical perspectives]. Ekev Akademi Dergisi, (99), 59–73. [In Turkish] https://doi.org/10.17753/sosekev.1489135
Bayrakdar, M. (1987). İslâm ibâdet fenomenolojisi [Phenomenology of Islamic worship]. Akçağ Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Bayrakdar, M. (2021). Yunus Emre ve aşk felsefesi [Yunus Emre and the philosophy of love]. İnsan Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Gölpınarlı, A. (1973). Mesnevî ve şerhi [Masnavi and its commentary] (Vol. 2). Başbakanlık Kültür Müsteşarlığı Kültür Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Gölpınarlı, A. (1974). Mesnevî ve şerhi [Masnavi and its commentary] (Vol. 4). Başbakanlık Kültür Müsteşarlığı Kültür Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Husserl, E. (1994). Avrupa insanlığının krizi ve felsefe [The crisis of European humanity and philosophy] (A. Sabuncuoğlu & Ö. Sözer, Trans.). Afa Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Husserl, E. (2003). Fenomenoloji üzerine beş ders [Five lectures on phenomenology] (H. Tepe, Trans.). Bilim ve Sanat Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Husserl, E. (2014). Kesin bilim olarak felsefe [Philosophy as a rigorous science] (A. Kaygı, Trans.). Türkiye Felsefe Kurumu Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Kalın, İ. (2021). İnsan ve hayat: Öze yolculuk [Human and life: Journey to the essence]. İnsan Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Ministry of National Education. (2025). Türkiye Yüzyılı Maarif Modeli ortak metni [Common text of Türkiye Century Education Model]. MEB Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Tatcı, M. (Ed.). (2012). Yûnus Emre Dîvân [Yûnus Emre Divan]. DİB Yayınları, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Topçu, N. (1997). Türkiye'nin maarif dâvası [Türkiye's education cause] (3rd ed.). Dergâh Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Topçu, N. (2006). Varoluş felsefesi hareket felsefesi [Existential philosophy, movement philosophy]. Dergâh Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Topçu, N. (2018). İslam ve insan & Mevlânâ ve tasavvuf [Islam and human & Rumi and Sufism]. Dergâh Yayınları, Istanbul, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Ünal, M. F. (2020a). Doğu ve Batı düşüncesinde insanın benzer yürüyüşü: Mevlânâ ve Heidegger örneği [Human's similar journey in Eastern and Western thought: The case of Rumi and Heidegger] [Doctoral dissertation, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University]. Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, Ankara, Türkiye. [In Turkish]
Ünal, M. F. (2020b). Mevlânâ ve Heidegger'de ölümün fenomenolojik yorumu [Phenomenological interpretation of death in Rumi and Heidegger]. Sosyal Bilimler Araştırma Dergisi, 18(36), 29–54. [In Turkish]