Founding Rector of Uskudar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was the live broadcast guest of the conference organized with the contributions of Bingöl University Vocational School of Social Sciences. In the event held online via Youtube, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan made evaluations on the topic of ‘Being a Conscious Young Person’. Stating, “We need to raise humans who are subjects, not objects,” Tarhan said; “When you come to the end of your life, what kind of story did you write, what kind of mark did you leave? This is very important. These give people greater happiness. We need to do things that add meaning.”
“There are three types of learning in life”
In the conference moderated by Bingöl University Rector Prof. Dr. İbrahim Çapak, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan discussed the importance of the search for meaning in human life and the effects of learning types on building consciousness in people. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'Being conscious and aware in youth is very important. There are three types of learning in life. The first is how an average person learns. They make a mistake and then don't make that mistake again. They learn by trial and error. This is also machine learning. For example, now there is artificial intelligence. They make robots take a step, it doesn't work. In the second instance, it doesn't take that step, it tries another option. This also becomes machine learning. Learning by trial and error, machines learn this way. But a human's life is not enough for everything to be learned by trial and error. So, what does a smart person do? They learn from the experiences of others. Learning from the experiences of others in this way is being conscious. Those who learn from the experiences of others do not make that mistake when faced with it. This is also a kind of wisdom, youth wisdom. The one who does this learns from it. The third type of learning is actually not learning. That is, some people make the same mistake again and again, years pass, and they still do it. In Anatolia, these types are called 'hödük' (boors). They go their own way. In other words, they do not benefit from experience.'
“A selfish person is always focused on their own interests”
Evaluating the connection between selfishness and narcissism in people, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'As long as a person is selfish, they set a bad example for new generations. A selfish person cannot empathize. A selfish person is always focused on their own interests, they are a narcissist. What is the characteristic of narcissism? Sigmund Freud says, ‘For a person to be a therapist, they must first train their own narcissism for two years.’ We cannot be beneficial to others without training the narcissism within us. They have said this through experience. And they are truly right. Later, he misunderstood other things. While trying to train his own narcissism, he said, ‘Our purpose in life is to pursue pleasure.’ He said, ‘The most important thing that connects a person to life is the pleasure principle.’ When talking about the pleasure principle, this can be used for the treatment of some depressive conditions. There are some thought patterns and movements that forbid pleasure to oneself. This is valid for them, but when you make this a life philosophy, populism and modernism emerge. Modernism, in turn, asks ‘What is your ego ideal?’ and answers it as ‘the pursuit of pleasure.’'
“Being useful to people adds meaning to life”
Drawing attention to the importance of meaning in human life, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'Egocentricity and opportunism have now become a life philosophy and a global culture. There is a serious need for global transformation. For this, we will experience some things. Both good people and bad people will increase. When I come to the end of my life, will I make people say ‘this man was a good man’? Or will I make them say ‘he died, we are rid of him, may the earth see his benefit’? When you come to the end of your life, what kind of story did you write? What kind of mark did you leave? This is very important. These give people greater happiness. We need to do things that add meaning. Abstract meanings consist of ‘symbolic thoughts’ and ‘conceptual thoughts’. Doing things that are beneficial to people adds meaning to one's life. You make the other person happy, and you make yourself happy too.'
“Young people who learn these will make a difference in the future”
Emphasizing that young people should acquire social skills as well as academic skills, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'Currently, philosophical secularism, or worldliness, is very widespread. Everything is thought to consist only of the world. In 2014, Arizona and Columbia Universities published a manifesto. Its name is ‘The Post-Materialist Science Manifesto.’ The manifesto states that materialism is over, and materialism no longer explains everything. Since it doesn't explain everything, it proceeds with the idea that we need to transform into a new version of science, and they publish a manifesto about this. There is indeed a need for mental transformations. More important than academic skills for making a difference are social skills, emotional skills, and wisdom skills. Young people who learn these will make a difference in the future. They will be both happy and successful.'
“Some values remain where they are valued, and fly away from where they are not”
Evaluating the concept of loyalty, which is among our cultural values, through love, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'Love is not the cause in marriage, but the result. If those in love cannot establish good cooperation, love evaporates. If those with average affection establish good cooperation, they fall madly in love with each other. This also exists in old age. Companions who make each other happy are people who have managed to establish cooperation. In a nursing home in England, there is an Alzheimer's patient. She no longer even recognizes her husband. Her husband comes to her every day, spends time with her, takes her to the garden, and talks. The caregiver finally asked, ‘She doesn’t recognize you, so why do you come every day?’ The husband replied, ‘But I recognize her.’ This is tremendous loyalty. This exists in our culture, but unfortunately, such values are like money. They escape from where their worth is not known. They remain where they are valued, and fly away from where they are not.'
“These projects related to youth are never in vain”
Drawing attention to the importance of social responsibility projects undertaken, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'It is very valuable to prioritize and include projects related to the future of young people and your social responsibility efforts, because there are some things whose effect is not immediately apparent but emerges later. There is a story about Temel. Temel was stealing. He goes to a shop, and while cutting the lock with a jigsaw that looked like a violin, the guard catches Temel. He asks, ‘What are you doing?’ Temel says, ‘I’m playing the violin.’ The guard says, ‘This violin makes no sound.’ Temel replies, ‘Its sound comes out in the morning.’ So, in life too, the impact of some things emerges later. It's the same with social projects related to youth. Their effect emerges later. Perhaps it emerges a generation later, but it emerges somehow. That's why these projects related to youth are never in vain.'
“We need to raise humans who are subjects, not objects”
Emphasizing the values in human upbringing, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; 'Consciousness is actually being able to follow innovation. There is a concept of mental flexibility. Unfortunately, our education system is designed for academic success. 20th-century education is generally like this. In 21st-century skills, however, education systems now value not only technical skills but also life skills. They also include social and emotional skills. Without these, even if one is a very good student, they cannot continue their work, they change jobs. They cannot develop marriage or human relationships. If you only develop academic success, you become a secondary person. We need to raise humans who are subjects, not objects.'