Şahin Uçar, Poet, Writer, Musician
Poet and writer (b. 12 February 1949, Acıyurt / Sivas). He graduated from 4 Eylül High School and Istanbul University, Department of History (1972). His PhD thesis was Arapların Anadolu Seferleri / 640-750 (Anatolian Expeditions of the Arabs / 640-750, 1983). He worked as a music teacher at the school from which he graduated (1974). He became a specialist of Paleography and Epigraphy at Ataturk University, Faculty of Literature, Department of Turkish Language and Literature (1976), an assistant of Islamic History at the Department of History (1977), an assistant professor at Selçuk University (1983) and then became an associate professor (1988). Afterwards he continued his career at Niğde University, Faculty of Literature and became professor of history (1993). He became a director of the Institute of Social Sciences (1977) and the Head of the Department of History. He was also vice dean and deputy rector at same university. He retired in 1998. Afterwards he worked as a manager at the Turkish Religious Foundation for a time. He is a member of National Geographic Society (the United States), the Writers Union of Turkey and the Professional Association of Scientific and Literary Work Owners of Turkey.
His first article Orda Bir Köy Var Uzakta (There is a Village Faraway) was published in the newspaper Hizmet in 1967 and his other works have been published in publications such as Tohum, Yeşilay (1970), Hergün (1978), Yeni Düşünce (1987), Millî Eğitim, Millî Kültür, İlim ve Sanat, Türk Edebiyatı and S. Ü. Edebiyat Dergisi. He won the Writers Union of Turkey Thought Award with his work Tarih Felsefesi Açısından İslâmda Mülk ve Hilâfet (Property and the Caliphate in Relation the Philosophy of History) in 1992 and Varlığın Mana ve Mazmunu (The Meaning and Explanation of Existence) in 1995. He is also interested in calligraphy, gilding and music. Some of his compositions have been added to the repertoire of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation.
WORKS:
POETRY: Şeydâ Divanı (Divan* of Şeyda, 1980), Rüya ve Gerçek (The Dream and the Reality, play in verse, as an appendix to the first edition of “The Collected Poems of Şeyda”, 1980), Hüküm Gecesi (Judgment Night, 1992), Malihulya (Melancholy, 1996).
ESSAY-RESEARCH: Patterns and Trends in History (1986), Anadolu’da İslâm-Bizans Mücadelesi (The Fight Between Islam and Byzantium in Anatolia, 1990), Tarih Felsefesi Açısından İslâmda Mülk ve Hilâfet (Property and the Caliphate in Relation to the Philosophy of History, 1992), Tarih Felsefesi Yazıları (Commentary on the Philosophy of History, 1994), Varlığın Mânâ ve Mazmunu (The Meaning and Explanation of Existence, 1995), Tarih Felsefesi Meseleleri (Issues of the Philosophy of History, 1997), İnsanın Yeryüzü Macerası (The Earth Adventure of Mankind, 2003).
These published books are not included at that website:
Sen Şarkını Söyle (Sing Your Song). Cultural Patterns and Alienation Trends in History, The Essence of Existence, The Quest for Meaning
Contents
chapter one
1.The Pen, the Preserved Tablet, and Divine Instruction
2.Kufic Calligraphy as the Embodiment of the Sacred Word
3. Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz), Qur’an,
4. semantical debates about the Origins of Language, and naming
5. Theological and Cosmological Significance of Kufic Script, Letters as Theophanies in Islamic Scripture as Witness
Chapter two
Critical evaluations of disciplines and my philosophy of history
1. epistemological evaluations and perspectives
2. The Limits of Human Consciousness
3. On the Limits of Language and understanding
4. Some Additional Evaluations about Art, Science, Philosophy, Religion, and Mystical Experience
5, On History Itself, Historiography, and the Philosophy of History
chapter three
1. On Historical Origins of Arabic Script and Historical Development of Kufi Calligraphy
2. Kufic Script: The Incarnation of the Word
3. Early Kufic Characteristics and the “Misnomer” Debate
4. Oldest Qur`an Manuscripts
Chapter four
1. Evolution of the Kufi
2 . Dome of the Rock
3. Kufi’s Artistic Maturation
4. Kufic as an Archetype and Its Diverse Styles
5. Regional Variations and Styles of Kufic
6. Ornamental Use of Kufic Script
7. Kufic Calligraphy at the Intersection of Art, Theology, and Philosophy
Annexes:
- About the Art of Calligraphy
- The Quest for Meaning Throughout Time
- Contemporary Interpretations to the Forgotten Dreams of Nebukadnezzar, Kinf of Babel
- Humankind, Being and Time