On Oct 5th of 2010, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu
gave the keynote speech at the opening ceremony in İstanbul Şehir
University. I devote this blog post to the highlights from his speech.
gave the keynote speech at the opening ceremony in İstanbul Şehir
University. I devote this blog post to the highlights from his speech.
The subject is the knowledge discovery. What do we have to do as a
nation to advance in knowledge discovery? We need to change our
whole attitude, and we have to change it now. And, it starts with our
youth. There are five pillars to build a foundation on.
nation to advance in knowledge discovery? We need to change our
whole attitude, and we have to change it now. And, it starts with our
youth. There are five pillars to build a foundation on.
1. Character: each member of this country has to develop his character
and self-identity. We must be proud of who we are as Turks, where we
came from, where we are now. We have to adopt a universal outlook
such that we are all global citizens with total self-consciousness. We do
not have the luxury to have complexes, or any type of feelings of fancy
towards another culture. Such feelings totally obscures and stands before
having a clear mind. A clear mind that is free from dogmas, superficial fuss,
hypes, aggression, and a clear mind that is free from double-standardization
in evaluating and interpreting ideas is what we need to have. With clearer
vision, we can see the road ahead.
and self-identity. We must be proud of who we are as Turks, where we
came from, where we are now. We have to adopt a universal outlook
such that we are all global citizens with total self-consciousness. We do
not have the luxury to have complexes, or any type of feelings of fancy
towards another culture. Such feelings totally obscures and stands before
having a clear mind. A clear mind that is free from dogmas, superficial fuss,
hypes, aggression, and a clear mind that is free from double-standardization
in evaluating and interpreting ideas is what we need to have. With clearer
vision, we can see the road ahead.
2. A comprehensive perspective: knowledge is universal. We do not have the
luxury to subdivide knowledge into various fields and subfields and so on, i.e.,
further fragmenting the total. However, a discovery in a subfield may have far
reaching consequences in every aspect of our society, and it would be a big
mistake to have a local perspective on outcomes and observations and
evaluations, and therefore miss the global/big picture.
luxury to subdivide knowledge into various fields and subfields and so on, i.e.,
further fragmenting the total. However, a discovery in a subfield may have far
reaching consequences in every aspect of our society, and it would be a big
mistake to have a local perspective on outcomes and observations and
evaluations, and therefore miss the global/big picture.
3. Action-oriented: a person needs to be action oriented. Having character
and a global perspective on things, the prototype Turk has to act on his
hunches, ideas, and pursue her dreams. Without proper observation,
synthesis & analysis , and then action, we cannot change our
environment. We cannot change the status-quo. If we cannot renew
ourselves and adapt, we will slowly transform into followers, and certainly
not into leaders. The regular methodology is to first observe, then
orient (synthesis & analysis), decide (form an hypothesis) and
finally act. Our actions will change our environment, new set of
observations will appear. These will either support our hypothesis or
reject it. In anyway, it will teach us how to build knowledge.
and a global perspective on things, the prototype Turk has to act on his
hunches, ideas, and pursue her dreams. Without proper observation,
synthesis & analysis , and then action, we cannot change our
environment. We cannot change the status-quo. If we cannot renew
ourselves and adapt, we will slowly transform into followers, and certainly
not into leaders. The regular methodology is to first observe, then
orient (synthesis & analysis), decide (form an hypothesis) and
finally act. Our actions will change our environment, new set of
observations will appear. These will either support our hypothesis or
reject it. In anyway, it will teach us how to build knowledge.
4. Communication: discovered knowledge has to be applied in society.
It has to be used, it has to be integrated into the belief system of the
society. These usually take the form of best practices. Ethical, methodical,
and efficient new ways to do things. Communication is a natural outcome
of discovery of knowledge. We cannot leave the society and the world we
live in devoid of this new information that help them see and explain the
world more precisely. Otherwise, "we know less" means "we will believe more".
More belief inherently instills fear into our souls. Fear is the number one
enemy of innovation and disruption. Disruptive thinking is the itch to find
new ways of doing things, i.e., innovation.
It has to be used, it has to be integrated into the belief system of the
society. These usually take the form of best practices. Ethical, methodical,
and efficient new ways to do things. Communication is a natural outcome
of discovery of knowledge. We cannot leave the society and the world we
live in devoid of this new information that help them see and explain the
world more precisely. Otherwise, "we know less" means "we will believe more".
More belief inherently instills fear into our souls. Fear is the number one
enemy of innovation and disruption. Disruptive thinking is the itch to find
new ways of doing things, i.e., innovation.
5. Economic engine: In order to sustain such an environment where these
prototype Turks live in, an economic & politic order has to be setup
as the core driving engine. Only if all these activities are executed under
a well defined policy and financed either through its own economic engines
or external funding, then we can create an environment where these
Prototypes thrive instead of being social outcasts.
prototype Turks live in, an economic & politic order has to be setup
as the core driving engine. Only if all these activities are executed under
a well defined policy and financed either through its own economic engines
or external funding, then we can create an environment where these
Prototypes thrive instead of being social outcasts.
Finally, I will conclude with a translation of one of his visions.
Universities that are able to successfully institutionalize are the universities
that seek solutions to basic and important problems of human beings. And
they are going to implicitly attract everyone in the search for such a solution.
that seek solutions to basic and important problems of human beings. And
they are going to implicitly attract everyone in the search for such a solution.
2 comments:
Ahmet, Great summary .. Thanks. -- CKK
Dr. Nurullah Ardıç's comments (from Sociology Dept at İstanbul Şehir University):
Five dimensions are:
1. psychological foundation,
2. global outlook,
3. local orientation,
4. sociological foundation,
5. politico-economic dimension.
1st dimension: University's most important goal is to educate Actors that are self-confident and intellectual.
2nd dimension: The individual has to embrace the methods that will be used to produce universal knowledge. Her vision is beyond local settings, i.e., global.
3rd dimension: The individual Actor will embrace global knowledge, but will not be oblivious to what defines him as person, her roots. An intellectual that can embrace her historical roots and body of knowledge, also be very interested in her society's local problems.
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