Üsküdar University Founding Rector-Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan met with his admirers in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, through interviews and book signing events. Tarhan, who conversed with and signed books for Azerbaijanis showing great interest, also made important assessments on topics such as family, youth, and happiness in the capital.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector-Psychiatrist, Author Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan met with Azerbaijanis at an interview titled “The Beautiful Human Model,” organized by the Yeşil Elma Platform at the European Azerbaijan School Conference Hall.
During the interview, moderated by sociologist Sahib Altay, Tarhan made striking evaluations on many subjects.
Countless relationships, but zero real love…
Pointing to the reality of today being “big house, small family,” Tarhan stated: “The reality of today is more promotion, advancement, less common sense. There are advanced medicines, but health is not sufficient. We go to the Moon, we want to go to Mars, but we don't know our neighbors. Countless relationships exist, but real love is zero. There is good information, but less virtue. There is high intelligence, but less emotional intelligence. There is high income, but less peace. There are expensive watches, but no time at all. There are bigger televisions, but fewer books. There are more people, but less humanity. There are crowds of friends on social media, but real friends are almost zero. We are experiencing a serious erosion of values. We are experiencing a serious decay in values. This is not only in a certain region but exists globally.”
Voluntary imperialism exists…
Drawing attention to a statistic from the USA, Tarhan stated that cases of suicide, self-poisoning, self-harm, major depression, and depressive symptoms related to illnesses have rapidly increased since 2013. Tarhan said, “What changed since 2013? Social media, rapid communication, nothing else. There is a change in world culture, a serious cultural mobility. Popular culture has become a global culture. Now there is a voluntary imperialism. People have enough clothes in their wardrobes to last them 10 years. These are false needs. This is the paradox of abundance. A generous world…”
The pursuit of pleasure among youth…
According to a study conducted in France, Prof. Dr. Tarhan also drew attention to the increasing “pursuit of pleasure,” stating, “The proportion of people who say 'The most important thing for me is to pursue pleasure' is at its highest level. This is true for Generation Z. It is lower in other generations. Whether this is related to age or culture is a separate issue. But it is increasing independently of age. It affects the younger generation more.”
Hedonism is the pursuit of pleasure and delight…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that in addition to self-actualization, one must transcend oneself and set a goal beyond oneself to be beneficial to society, humanity, and the universe; “The first symptom of the California Syndrome is hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure and delight. Maslow placed self-actualization at the top of the human needs hierarchy pyramid. 10-15 years later, he published that at the top of the second pyramid should be self-transcendence, not self-actualization. When a person's goal is self-actualization, they become self-centered. Self-transcendence, on the other hand, is a goal above oneself, such as being beneficial to society, humanity, the universe, and the Creator. Humans also possess that characteristic. They need to be able to transcend themselves, otherwise society will consist of selfish individuals. Maslow changed the approach that 'selfishness is inherent in human nature,' but Hollywood and California haven't changed it yet. Because the entertainment industry has created a tremendous industry.”
The shaking of centuries-old accumulated values is at stake…
Tarhan explained that there is a group in the world pursuing adventure and seeking excitement as a lifestyle, and this leads to substance addiction, stating, “This means the erosion of values, weakening of internal control in people, the ability to say no, to say no to pleasures, to delay gratification, and the education of patience and resilience. Wanting to possess the most money and expensive things, the pursuit of pleasure among youth, becoming rich, taking risks, living an exciting life, living an entertaining life has become a widespread situation. The shaking of centuries-old accumulated values is at stake…”
Why isn't spiritual well-being increasing while material well-being does?
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also pointed to the California syndrome, which consists of unlimited consumption, fondness for entertainment and pleasure, egocentrism, loneliness, and unhappiness, stating, “Currently, humanity is in a civilization crisis. Material well-being has increased, but spiritual well-being is not increasing similarly. People do not feel happy.”
Tarhan also stated that the situation causing loneliness is one's own behavior, saying, “The biggest reason is a person being egocentric, thinking about events only from their own interest, their own perspective, not from someone else's… Lack of empathy, thinking only about one's own rights, one's own needs, one's own feelings, not considering the feelings of the other side, is the greatest enemy of marriage and the greatest enemy of social life.”
Not material goals, but abstract goals should be set
Emphasizing the importance of raising a child with life goals, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said; “When defining success, there are three paradigms. We want our child to be intelligent and successful. The current education system aims to raise intelligent and successful children, but the third, most important thing, is that your child should be a good person. Have character, be moral. We will carry these three parameters together. If we implement these three parameters, children will never detach. Parents currently raise children with two parameters. Can a child manage themselves when embarking on life's journey? Can they manage life? Can they choose good when faced with good and evil? What kind of person should they be when they reach the end of life? We need to set abstract goals for them, not material ones. 'What kind of person do you want to be when you reach the end of your life? What do you want written on your tombstone? What kind of marks do you want to leave in life? How do you want to be remembered?' Enabling a child to articulate this and raising a child with life goals is very important.”
One of the most fundamental values of the family is Love…
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that families are where values are most protected, emphasizing that this is why the family is called the last refuge. Tarhan said; “When a city is attacked, the outer castle is destroyed first. Social norms have changed, our traditions are changing; this is the outer castle. The inner castle is the family. And there is an open door into the family: smartphones… In the safe environment of the home, they reflect everything unsafe. To protect this, while we used to spend half an hour with our child fifty years ago, now we will spend an hour. We will spend an hour with our spouse. That is the solution. Let the home be a safe space, let relationships be warm; Hollywood, social media, etc., can do nothing. The family has fundamental values, and love is one of them. Let there be love in the family, but such love that its greater form is compassion. Unconditional love without self-interest is very important in a family. Second is respect, and there is something greater than respect, which is courtesy. Because respect can also stem from fear, but courtesy simultaneously includes the feeling of not hurting and not upsetting. When approaching one's spouse and children, one should approach them like a surgeon approaches organs. Very delicately, compassionately, and firmly, without damaging tissues. If approached with a medical understanding that respects tissues, the most efficient results are obtained at the most sensitive moment.”
Do not interfere with their privacy, apologies, and sacred beliefs!
Emphasizing the importance of being positive in interpersonal communication, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that to combat evil and correct a child, good, right, and beautiful behaviors should be increased. Tarhan said; “Parents should be a learning organization within the family. How do smart parents create a warm atmosphere at home? We need to focus on 'How do we make the home a nest, a refuge?' When you do something negative, the way to correct the negative is to increase the positive. The way to combat darkness is to light a candle. Similarly, if we want to combat evil in the family and correct our children, we will increase our good, right, and beautiful behaviors. When we increase these, the child grows and develops in the warm atmosphere created at home. That's why we say here: Do not interfere with a child's three things: their privacy, their apologies, and their sacred beliefs. When you start from their sacred beliefs, privacy, and apologies, you cannot establish communication. Therefore, in communication, we will respect their privacy and establish positive communication.”
The 5S makes marriage more resilient…
Tarhan spoke about how the 5S rule makes crises in marriage more resilient and further increases the quality of marriage.
Tarhan said; “There is a 5S rule that I emphasize a lot. The 5S rule is applicable not only in marriage but for everyone. Being able to apply it makes crises more resilient in many marriages and further increases the quality of marriage. It results in both a peaceful marriage and, especially, helps raise good children. One of the 5S's is love. Love is important, but there is also unconditional love, known as compassion. This love is one of the 5S rules. The second is the rule of respect. If love is water, respect is its container. If one does not know their boundaries, that love goes to the wrong place and ceases to be beneficial. For this reason, respect is very important, and there is an even greater form of respect, called courtesy. One can show respect out of fear, but courtesy involves empathy, the feeling of not hurting the other party, and the feeling of giving importance. Respect in marriage should be in the form of courtesy, and love should be in the form of compassion. The third S is patience. One of the important things said in marriage is patience. Of course, if life is a journey, the journey of life is like climbing a mountain. The journey of life is not a flat road, flowery, or gardened. It is like a journey up a mountain; there are stones, pits, obstacles. Being able to overcome these obstacles and move forward is very important. What we want to emphasize here is that when one encounters difficulty, they should be able to tolerate that difficulty and not give up on their goal.”
Marriage and morality are humanity's greatest discoveries…
Continuing his speech by mentioning the fourth S, Tarhan said; “The fourth S is fidelity. The greatest nightmare of modernism is infidelity. Fidelity has two important meanings: one is loyalty, and the other is truthfulness. Being loyal to our spouse in marriage is important, but being truthful is also important. It's such that if there is no honesty, that marriage simply doesn't work. Where there is no honesty, there is no healthy relationship, or even any relationship at all. That's why we say love + cooperation = lifelong love. Lifelong love doesn't happen by itself; cooperation is absolutely necessary. If there is cooperation, resilience is needed, and a person needs the power of endurance. Mating is biological, marriage is cultural. Marriage and morality are the greatest discoveries humanity has made. Where there is no family, there is no society, no children, generations are ruined. Therefore, just as a building has foundation stones, the family is the foundation stone of society. Only if we keep the institution of family alive can we transmit our culture. If there were no family institution against these evils in the world, we would not be able to transfer this culture. The family is an important element for us.”
The Metaverse created a simulation…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, also drawing attention to humanity's search for meaning and quantum studies, sought an answer to the question 'Is the Universe a simulation?' Tarhan stated; “The Metaverse created a simulation. The situation is moving towards people being able to trade, buy and sell goods, and spend their entire day there. This is the unmathematized state. We call the unmathematized state of science philosophy. For example, it was born as a result of neurobiological foundations, meaning theoretical modeling requires reinterpretation of ontology or the sciences of Islamic creed (Akaid) and Kalam in this era. According to this information, Wahdat al-Wujud or Wahdat al-Shuhud became more understandable. Tawhid is mathematically the closest to reason as a reality. Tawhid, mathematically, can only be a conception of a God who created this universe and possesses the attribute of Tawhid (Oneness). This is emerging. That is, there are 4,300 religions, and each religion has a different conception of God. There is a need for God among these because humans have a need to believe in an afterlife and a higher power. Mathematically, Tawhid is the best fit for reason.”
A smart design: 'The Universe'
“No non-human living being has been observed to seek answers to abstract questions such as 'What kind of being should I be?', 'What happens after death?', 'Why do I exist?', 'Who am I?', 'Where should I direct myself?', 'Why?', 'What is the meaning of life?'” said Tarhan, adding, “It is unknown what goal or path a person without a defined abstract purpose strives to solve recurring problems on. When human genes were examined, no gene for a defined purpose was found. The only genetic structure that explains human progress is the 'novelty seeking gene.' However, it is up to cultures to fill the content of this gene.”
Tarhan, also touching upon how Islam views genetic studies and gene technology, continued as follows:
“The universe is the work of Allah's attribute of power. It is as if it is written in the form of a book. One page of this universal book is the earth. Humans are like a word within that page. The subject of all sciences is this universal book. The Quran is also the work of Allah's attribute of speech. Therefore, the owner of both books is the same. The religion of Islam encourages research and examination. It considers scientific work, research, and contemplation as worship. It deems an hour of contemplation on creation and created beings, meaning reasoning and thinking, superior to a year of worship. Thus, it asks for importance to be given to science and laboratory studies. It says, 'Do you not reflect?', 'Do you not reason?'. It praises intelligent thinking.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that “Since the universe is digitally based, the universe is a design,” said, “If there is a design, for example, you found a watch on the road. Finding this watch means that there is a master of that watch. You would say there is an artisan, an intelligence behind it. In the same way, when you find a watch, you think like that, but when you see an insect, when you see a mosquito, is there no art there? A mosquito emerges from an egg and becomes a mosquito within a few months. Think of a human, from a blood clot, a living human being forms within 9 months and 10 days. The universe is an intelligent design…”
Global conscience has surpassed global politics
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated the events in Gaza and the world's reactions to Gaza in the context of humanitarian values; “Politics is a system focused on political interest. The first priority of politics is its own interest. It leans towards what the powerful want. In such situations, geopolitical changes in human history proceed episodically. They fluctuate. Evildoers appear, evildoers multiply, and as the bad consequences of evildoers are seen, there is a greater need for good people. Good people multiply… In the current geopolitical situation, due to the world being a global village, an electronic village, everything done no longer stays in that region. Both good and bad are immediately noticed. A prime example of this is the Gaza events… There was more reaction in America, Europe, Scandinavia, and England than in our geography. Politicians apply double standards, but the average person has started to become much more objective. This actually shows that global conscience has surpassed global politics. If global conscience surpasses politics, then politicians will have to comply with what communities say. Therefore, society, the grassroots, needs to be more sensitive. That is, here, one should act not as a participant in politics but as a partner. It is imperative that civil society organizations, and everyone as individuals, feel responsible for guiding the world towards good.”
The Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto has been opened for signatures…
Tarhan, emphasizing that Üsküdar University and L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University of Kazakhstan did not remain silent about this genocide, said they prepared a joint 'Universal Human Values and Rights Manifesto' and opened it for signatures. The manifesto, which draws attention to events in the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and most recently Gaza, with a goal of 25,000 signatures, will be presented to the UN General Assembly and Security Council at the end of this year.
Author Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also signed his books…
Following the interview, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was a guest at reader-writer gatherings organized by Lıbraff publishing house in Baku, Azerbaijan. Conversing with his readers there, Tarhan drew attention to the importance of reading books.
Tarhan emphasized the benefits of reading according to the 5W1H method (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) while reading a book, stating that this activates 6 networks and makes reading permanent and instructive.
Reading requires mental effort and struggle…
Tarhan also drew attention to the importance of purposeful reading, adding that reading books requires mental effort and struggle.
Tarhan reminded that the benefit of reading books emerges later.
In the program where Tarhan received intense interest, he especially signed his book 'Kamil İnsan Modeli' (The Perfect Human Model), which was translated into Azerbaijani, for his readers and took souvenir photos with them.