A Neo-Scholastic Critique of Modern Western Philosophy in the Late Ottoman Empire: Boghos Emmanuelian and Armenian Thomism
Turkish Historical Review, 2026 (AHCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1163/18775462-bja10088
- Journal Name: Turkish Historical Review
- Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Index Islamicus
- Keywords: Armenian, Ottoman Empire, philosophy, Thomas Aquinas, Westernization
- Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This essay challenges the shortcomings of the dominant literature on the reception, appropriation, and rejection of modern Western philosophy in the late Ottoman Empire. The dominant literature is ethnocentric, reducing Ottoman philosophy to the works of Muslim/Turkish intellectuals. Moreover, it largely attributes the introduction of modern Western philosophy into the Empire in the late nineteenth century exclusively to French influence. In challenging the dominant literature, this essay analyzes the philosophy of an Ottoman Armenian Catholic, Boghos Emmanuelian, who was influenced by one of the Italian founders of scholastic philosophy, namely Thomas Aquinas. Situated at the crossroads of several historical contexts, including the increasing Ottoman interest in Western philosophical literature, confessional conflicts between various Christian sects, and the rise of Neo-Scholasticism among the Catholic intelligentsia in Rome, Emmanuelian sought to offer a Thomist alternative to modern Western philosophy in order to resist the growing displacement of religiosity by reason and rationality.