Aşık Veysel's Poetic Philosophy: Forging a Universal Humanism from Tradition and the Republic

Abstract

This article examines Aşık Veysel’s poetry as a distinctive form of philosophical thought in which Turkish folk tradition, Republican ideals, and universal humanism are brought into a coherent meaning-form unity. The study aims to show that Veysel’s poems should not be read merely as examples of folk literature or lyrical self-expression, but as texts that articulate a philosophical worldview grounded in human dignity, equality, knowledge, cultural continuity, and social enlightenment. Methodologically, the article employs textual, philosophical, and historical-cultural analysis, interpreting selected poems in relation to Turkish folk culture, Alevi-Bektashi heritage, Republican modernization, concepts of knowledge, and universal moral values. The findings demonstrate that Aşık Veysel transforms local and national themes - such as village life, soil, nature, Atatürk, the Republic, and Turkish identity - into universal reflections on humanity, existence, truth, and ethical responsibility. His poetry constructs an inclusive humanism that transcends sectarian, ethnic, and religious divisions, while affirming science, education, and cultural memory as foundations of social progress. The article argues that Aşık Veysel’s poetic philosophy represents a significant contribution to modern Turkish thought, offering an “Anatolian humanism” that unites tradition, Republican consciousness, and universal moral horizons.