Being and Apocalypse

Abstract

In this philosophical essay, we are trying to introduce a new understanding of “var-lık” (be-ing) by making use of the possibilities of the Turkish language. This understanding is based on a trans-ontological approach to being in its finite character and precisely in its connection with “Olma”. Actually, “Olma”, which we cannot find the appropriate equivalent in English, expresses an indefinable and thus non-delimitable notion in proportion to “varlık” (being) in Turkish. For “Olma” in this language includes not only the “existent” (var-o-lan”), but also the “non-existent” (“yok-olan”). At the same time, this essay exposes two basic modes of “varlık” (being) in which “varlık” manifests itself differently in each one: “oluş” (“becoming”) as a real and timely manifestation and “durum” as an ideal and timeless manifestation. Of course, both “oluş” and “durum” must be handled on an ontological level and in an essential connection with “varlık”, because both belong essentially to it. In addition to these ontological modes of manifestation, we propose a new notion in a trans-ontological character: “oladurum” - a notion that means a kind of special disclosure/revelation of “Olma”. “Oladurum”, which manifests itself in the “event” (“olay”) the subject lived through [...]