PROBLEMATIZATION OF DISTANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF AHMED GÜNER SAYAR’S ECONOMIC THINKING

Abstract
Ahmet Güner Sayar is known for his works in the field of Turkish economic mentality. He pursued the thought and method of his teacher, Sabri. F. Ülgener in this field to a large extent. He has taken the Ulgerian thought to a new level by subjecting a deeper analysis, for example, by further developing the conceptualisation of ‘Turkish custom’ and the ‘individual’ in the context of homo economicus. The debate about the Ottoman people’s distance from the tripartite world (matter, environment, and time) continues in Sayar, as Ülgener emphasised. Distance here is defined as remoteness. Both Ülgener and Sayar criticise esoteric Sufism and Malamiyyah in terms of distance. Distance for western people is close enough to know and change the essence of the object. This closeness in the distance constitutes the essence of recreating. Ülgener and Sayar read the contrast between the western and the Ottoman people in terms of distance. The perception of distance is different for both sides and opposed to each other. It is argued in the present work that the distance is not too far from the Ottoman person, but too close to perceive and change the world, which is a tripartite structure. This proximity is, in fact, the absence of distance. Since they saw themselves embedded into universe and nature, the Ottoman people could not see the external nature.