The Philosophy Meetings Have Begun at PAU
The first event of the "Philosophy Meetings at PAU" series, organized by the Philosophy Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pamukkale University (PAÜ), was held with a lecture titled "On Being Human and Life" by Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kılıç.
The inaugural session of the "Philosophy Meetings at PAU" series, organized by the Philosophy Department of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pamukkale University, took place on Wednesday, December 4, at the Prof. Dr. İsmail Çetişli Conference Hall. Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kılıç, a faculty member from the Philosophy Department of Aydın Adnan Menderes University, contributed to the first meeting with his talk titled "On Being Human and Life."
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kılıç emphasized that discussing humanity requires first defining the essence and condition of being human to establish a framework. Highlighting the shared aspects of life, which spans "birth" and "death," between humans and animals, he stressed that the concept of life takes shape through questions like "How should I live?" or "What kind of person should I be?"—marking a uniquely human experience. He described "being human" as a lifelong activity.
"Life, when it concerns 'being human,' refers not just to living but to living well," noted Prof. Dr. Kılıç. He explained that the questions posed by the problem of "being human and life" constantly invite us to reflect. Referring to the ancient Greek philosophical adage "Know Thyself," he suggested that, contrary to its negative connotations, it aligns closely with Mevlana's positive assertion: "One who knows their self knows themselves, and one who knows themselves knows their limits." Kılıç underlined the importance of recognizing one's boundaries and realizing potential within those limits. He added that the process of self-awareness and self-discovery is a long journey, concluding his talk with a quote attributed to the Turkish folk poet Neşet Ertaş: "The earlier one knows oneself, the longer they truly live."
Following the speech, the audience engaged in a lively discussion, contributing questions that enriched the atmosphere of philosophical inquiry. At the end of the Q&A session, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Yasemin Beyazıt, presented a certificate of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kılıç, while the Head of the Philosophy Department, Prof. Dr. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Öztürk, offered a commemorative gift.
