The legacy of Prof. Dr. Ş. Teoman Duralı, one of the leading figures of Turkish intellectual life and a prominent voice of indigenos Turkish philosophy , is being revived in the lands he was born and raised. The “Teoman Duralı Philosophy-Science House and Museum Project”, initiated by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN), has been officially approved by President Recet Tayyip Erdoğan.

With the Presidential Decree No. 11201, published in the Official Gazette on April 24,2026, the house located in Kuzyaka Neighbourhood of Kilimli district in Zonguldak-where Prof. Dr. Teoman Duralı spent his childhood-has been given to Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University for use in educational, cultural, and museum activities. This marks a significant step in Türkiye, as it represents the transformation of a philosopher’s childhoom home into a scientific and intellectual center.

A Philosopher’s House Turns into the Memory for a Nation

The main goal of the project is to pass on the intellectual world of Ş. Teoman Duralı on the future generations in the place he grew up. The project is not just a museum, but a living intellectual center.

The building in Kuzyaka has been designed as a dynamic space, which will be open 365 days a year to bring Academy to the people and represent Zonguldak in the field of philosophy and science.

In the memory space designed for the museum, the personal belongings of Prof. Dr. Teoman Duralı, his hand-written notes, and rich library will be meticulously preserved and exhibited; thus visitors will have the opportunuty to experience an intellectual world not just a life story.

This meaningful transformation is a strong reflection of Prof. Dr. Duralı’s commitment to this land he was born into. In fact, Duralı expresses his commitment to Zonguldak as:

“I am committed to Zonguldak with deep emotions as I was born and raised here. I come from a beautiful place which blends green and blue and I have always been proud of that. Nowhere in the world has ever looked more beautiful than Zonguldak to me.”

The Heart of the Project: Memory Spece, Digital Archive, and Open Science

The titles in the project demonstrate a rare vision in Türkiye:

Memory Space: Duralı’s personal belongings, hand-written notes, and library will be exhibited and will create an inspiring athmosphere.

Digital Archive: Through the project titled “An Anatomy of a Philosopher” , his works will be digitalized and a conceptual database will be established.

Open Science: Academic knowledge will meet the public through seminars, panels, and “Thought Workshops”.

Thought Center: a platform will be established to bring local culture and scientific thought together and promote critical thinking.

Dynamic Structure: An institute model thought exhibitions, reading groups and activities will be implemented.

The Story of a Life Devoted to Science and Philosophy: Who is Teoman Duralı?

One of the prominent figures of the Turkish intellectual world, Prof. Dr. Ş. Teoman Duralı was born on February 7, 1947, in the Kozlu district of Zonguldak. After completing his primary education in Zonguldak, he graduated from TED Ankara College for his secondary education. In 1973, he graduated from the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University, marking the beginning of his academic journey. Distinguished by his interdisciplinary approach combining philosophy, anthropology, and biology, Duralı earned his PhD in 1977 with his dissertation titled “The Problem of Life in Contemporary Thought.” He became an associate professor in 1982 and a professor in 1988. For nearly 38 years, he served at the Department of Philosophy at Istanbul University, playing a pioneering role in the institutionalization of the philosophy of science and the philosophy of biology in Türkiye.

Duralı left a lasting impact not only through his academic work but also through the students he mentored and the intellectual tradition he helped build. He contributed significantly to establishing philosophy as a central discipline in Türkiye. By producing new concepts for the development of philosophical language in Turkish and integrating the rich vocabulary of classical Turkish into philosophical literature, he led the formation of an original and authentic intellectual climate.

A Rich Scientific Heritage Crowned with Awards

Duralı’s works gained wide recognition, and in 2000, his book “Contemporary Global Civilization” received the Turkish Writers’ Union Award for Research. In 2017, he was honored with the Necip Fazıl Respect Award at the 4th Necip Fazıl Awards, presented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In recognition of his lasting contributions to the scientific community, Duralı was awarded the TÜBİTAK Service Award. The award was presented on December 28, 2022, at the Beştepe Nation’s Congress and Culture Center to his son, Dr. Deniz Duralı, again by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In addition, he was honored with the Presidential Grand Award for Culture and Arts in 2021, marking the highest level of recognition for his original contributions to philosophy and thought.

Throughout his academic career, Duralı not only produced significant works but also played a leading role in the establishment of philosophy departments at many universities in Türkiye, successfully represented the country in the international philosophical community, and contributed to the education of numerous scholars. In this respect, he is regarded not only as an academic but also as the founder of a distinct intellectual school.

BEUN’s Tribute to Duralı: Honorary Doctorate, Scientific Events and Ongoing Initiatives

Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University took significant steps to preserve and sustain Duralı’s legacy. On April 28, 2016, with the decision of the university senate chaired by Prof. Dr. Mahmut Özer—then Rector, former Minister of National Education of the 66th Government, and 28th Term AK Party Ordu Deputy—it was resolved to confer an honorary doctorate upon Ş. Teoman Duralı in recognition of his pioneering role in initiating studies in the philosophy of biology in Türkiye and his profound contributions to Turkish intellectual life. This honorary title was presented to him at a ceremony held on April 6, 2017. On the same day, the Teoman Duralı Study Hall, established within the university, became one of the first concrete steps toward institutionalizing and preserving his academic legacy.

Between 2022 and 2025, under the leadership of BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, a series of comprehensive events were organized to introduce Duralı’s intellectual world to wider audiences. Panels and programs such as “Teoman Duralı’s Intellectual World Through Witnesses,” “Between Manners and Knowledge: Understanding Teoman Duralı,” “Post-Metaphysics Metaphysical Debates – Towards New Ontologies,” as well as the panel “A Poet, A Traveler, A Discoverer, A Philosopher: Teoman Duralı” held on the occasion of his 77th birthday, and the exhibition “A Philosopher’s Vigil of the World: Teoman Duralı,” addressed his intellectual heritage from a multidimensional perspective.

The Legacy and Heritage of Prof. Dr. Duralı is Preserved

During the tenure of Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and with the approval of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the university was named after Teoman Duralı under Presidential Decree No. 9724 dated April 16, 2025, which came into effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette on April 17, 2025. In line with his will, the Department of Philosophy was established in June 2025 and started having students as of 2025-2026 academic year.

Teoman Duralı Philosophy-Science and Museum Project aims to transform not only the memory but also the intellectual world of Duralı into a living legacy as the main point of this initiative.

Rector Özölçer: “This work is a tribute to knowledge and a strong investment in the future”

In his remarks on the project, The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated the following:

“This valuable project, which will keep alive the cherished memory of the late Prof. Dr. Ş. Teoman Duralı—an eminent scholar and intellectual figure raised in our city of Zonguldak, the capital of energy and industry—within the very place where he spent his childhood, is for us an indescribable source of pride and a profound act of loyalty. This initiative is not merely the allocation of a building; it is also a strong testament to safeguarding knowledge, wisdom, thought, and our deep-rooted civilizational heritage.

Teoman Duralı is one of the exceptional names of intellectual world, not only in our country but globally with his deep philosophical knowledge, interdisciplinary approach, and valuable students. Preserving his intellectual world in the house he grew up means creating a honest, strong, and permanent bridge between the past and present. In this respect, Teoman Duralı Philosophy-Science House and Museum Project will be a thought center, which will introduce our univeristy’s vision with the public.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude, on behalf of myself, our university, and the people of Zonguldak, to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for honoring us with his approval of this meaningful project. I also sincerely thank Mustafa Şentop, the 29th Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, for his valuable support throughout the process.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, and the entire YÖK family for their continuous support.

I would also like to thank the entire Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University family for their dedicated efforts at every stage of this valuable project, from conception to implementation. I express my gratitude to Dr. Lecturer Deniz Duralı, an academic at Medipol University and the esteemed son of our late professor, as well as to his respected family for their support and contributions. I also extend my sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. İhsan Fazlıoğlu, Director of the Institute for the History of Science at Istanbul Medeniyet University, one of our professor’s distinguished students, and to businessman Veysel Bircan for their valuable contributions to the process.

I firmly believe that this exceptional work will become a center that shapes the intellectual life of not only our university and Zonguldak but also our country, inspiring young generations and fostering scientific production. I wish this valuable project to be beneficial and auspicious for our university, our city, the higher education community, and our country.”

Zonguldak Prepares to Become a New Hub of Philosophy

The Teoman Duralı Philosophy-Science House and Museum Project is not merely a commemoration but a strong bridge to the future. This initiative is expected to position Zonguldak not only as a center of industry and economy but also as a city of knowledge and culture, contributing significantly to the development of scientific and philosophical thought in Türkiye.