Abstract

The idea that there is a dialectical relationship between religion, individual and society is one of the most influential theories in social sciences and philosophy. According to this understanding, as human beings, we live in a stream of tradition that we did not create but are born into. However, we are not prisoners of tradition, for as authentic individuals and agents of civilizations, we take part in making this tradition also. Social changes, especially rapid and radical structural changes are painful. For this reason, it can lead to various serious anomalies both in the world views of individuals and in the social structures of societies. Refik Halid Karay and Turkish society are no exception to this rule. This article, then, aims to show how this dialectical relationship is objectified in Karay’s works. It first tries to determine the meaning Karay gives to human nature. Then, the differentiated beliefs, thoughts and moral values of the people in the process of adaptation to the changing world are examined. Finally, his approach to fashion and technology, his longing for the country due to his exile experience, and his approach to the idea of death, which is the inevitable experience of human beings, has been evaluated.

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