Turkish bioethics in the orkhon inscriptions as a strategy for natural adaptation

Abstract

The Orkhon Inscriptions are among the first written works with many recall figures in the cultural memory of the Turks. Thanks to these inscriptions, the Turks' mind codes for nature, which have become evident with the universe, human and nature designs, have reached the present day. The fact that the Bilge Tonyukuk Inscription was included in UNESCO's 2020 Memorial and Celebration Anniversaries Program is an opportunity to interpret, internalize and disseminate the understanding of nature processed in the monuments. The destruction created by globalization in nature has led many disciplines to focus on ecology studies. The destruction caused by human-centered approaches has led to the emergence of the theory of eco-criticism in the field of literature. Eco-criticism is a text-centered theory. For this reason, the theory of bioethics, which is believed to be sanctioned and oriented towards practice, began to become widespread in the study of social sciences and some historical-literary historical works. Bioethics theory is a widely used theory in order to determine ethical norms in scientific researches about living things. Aiming to determine ethical norms in studies conducted pri-marily in the fields of medicine, genetics and biology, bioethics has started to have an interdisciplinary meaning field that deals with ethical problems that arise in all studies related to living things over time. Thus, the destruction of the biosphere is also included in the field of bioethics. The combination of ethical norms such as soil ethics, air ethics, water ethics, plant ethics, animal ethics has become evident as nature bioethics. Before the concept of bioethics, the field of meaning of the theory was covered by nature cults. The concept of bioethics, which philosophy and science describe as the norms to be complied with in scientific studies on living things, has been embodied through showing adherence and respect to nature cults in ancient Turkish culture. Turks living in a nature-bound manner and accepting nature as a stage of their existence processes had nature cults that regulated their relations with nature. The traditional bioethical understanding of Turks is also included in The Orkhon Inscriptions. All of the elements belonging to nature are named as “place and water” with a view-point that sees the universe as a whole and these are blessed. The sanctities of the ground and water spirits are constantly recalled by using these words together with the word God. According to the inscriptions, ground and water is an expression used for all the sacred places of the Turks. Place and water spirits, which are the appear-ance of traditional Turkish bioethics in the inscriptions; includes all elements such as mountain, forest, tree, water, fire, and quarry. Turks living in harmony with nature base this harmony on their mutual relations with the elements of natüre which have souls according to their beliefs. According to the Turkish bioethics processed in The Orkhon Inscriptions, nature and environment are among the basic requirements of human beings. Existence depends on harmony in nature. The Turks were aware that their evolution was only possible by preserving these values. The use of the words earth and water as the semantic equivalent of all nature elements coincides with the idea of living-centrism in modern bioethics studies. This is a sign that the traditional ecological accu-mulation of Turks corresponds to today's contemporary and universal bioethical norms with a horizon that goes back centuries. Turks accepted bioethics, which is the result of the sensitivity of modern people to protect nature, as a matter of existence in their ancient cultures and turned them into a philosophy of life. The fact that the design we have mentioned is included in the Orkhon Inscriptions shows that many values in these monuments should be reinterpreted today and it is an opportunity for a sustainable environment. © 2020, Milli Folklor Dergisi. All rights reserved.