EVALUATION OF A TREATISE CALLED ÂDÂB AL-MUTÂL’AH (DISCUSSION ETHICS) BY THE CHIEF OTTOMAN ASTRONOMER AHMED DEDE

SÜLEYMAN HAYRİ BOLAY

ABSTRACT

This paper is a first attempt to evaluate a manuscript by an Ottoman astronomer, thinker
and historian lived during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent. Known simply as
Ahmed Dede because of his Mevlevi affiliation, Ahmad Lutfullah al-Mevlevi, left many
Works behind. One of these works is on discussion ethics, or rather etiquette, consisting
28 folios. He begins his list of etiquette of discussion and rebuttal by explaining that
God created the universe in such a manner that we are able to search for its secrets
and understand its laws. Man is also given an intellect which is able to perceive this
universe. Our senses receive impressions from the material universe and our intellect
is able to convert these impressions into concepts by which we are able to convert these
impressions into useful knowledge. Our intellect has certain rules to do this. These rules
are studied in logic. Yet we still commit errors and our fellow human beings notice these
errors. It is on this basis that discussion and rebuttal start between us. If however we do
not have an ethics of discussion our refusal and rebuttal may turn into simple fight over
words without reaching the truth. This treatise attempts to clarify this ethics and our
paper is an attempt to analyze Ahmed Dede’s points made in this regard and present a
general evaluation of his book.