FRONESİS’TEN BASİRETE, YAŞANMIŞLIK BİLGELİĞİ’NDEN EYLEBİL’E: ARISTOTELES’İN PHRONESIS KAVRAMININ TÜRKÇE İLE İMTİHANI

Erkan G. H.

ASES (ACADEMY OF SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL STUDIES) IV. INTERNATIONAL THRACE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CONGRESS, Edirne, Turkey, 18 - 21 June 2026, vol.1, no.1, pp.20-21, (Summary Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • Volume: 1
  • City: Edirne
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.20-21
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The concept of phronesis among the five intellectual virtues explained in the sixth chapter of

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, has recently regained importance in international literature,

particularly in the field of methodology in social sciences. However, just like its translation into

English, there is no consensus on its translation into Turkish. Scientific studies produce

concepts to understand and explain complex phenomena. For these concepts to be perceived

correctly and to fully grasp the phenomenon they explain, they must conform to the rules of the

language. Otherwise, the concept may further complicate the phenomenon or lead to

misinterpretations. For this reason, for example, using the term "common sense" or "prudence"

instead of "phronesis" in a philosophical discussion may be insufficient. Using another

translation, "precaution" or "practical wisdom," may result in semantically inappropriate

expressions in different compound terms, such as "prudent research design” when refer ring to

the phronetic research methodology. Using either the Turkish pronunciation or the original form

of the term would also not be grammatically correct. Writing it in the original letters would lead

to spelling problems due to the presence of letters and symbols not found in the Turkish

alphabet. Consequently, since knowledge production depends on the correct use of concepts,

the appropriate transfer of concepts between languages is crucial. This paper discusses a series

of translation proposals to resolve the issue of disagreement in the translation of the concept

into Turkish. A research study was conducted using three data sources. In the first stage,

translations used in Turkish publications were compiled through systematic literature review.

In the second stage, translators, facilitated by a freelance translation agency member of the

European Language Industry Association Ltd., were contacted via email and their responses

were compiled. Finally, suggestions from online translation websites and ar tificial intelligence

models, were compiled. In addition, student responses to the question "proposal and

justification for the translation of the term" asked as part of the final assignment in the graduate

course titled (University, Institute, Program, Course Code and Name) that the author of this

proceeding has been teaching for over a decade, were also used. This study aims to open up a

discussion for the translation of phronesis, taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the

international scientific environment where diverse specializations coexist, and to contribute to

the search for a suitable Turkish equivalent through the outcomes of this discussion.

Keywords: phronesis, translation, research methods in social sciences