AYDOGAN KARS Visiting Faculty, Department of Philosophy, Middle Tennessee State University Ph.D candidate, Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University Mail: 526 Dill Lane, #536, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, USA E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected] Web: http://vanderbilt.academia.edu/aydogankars Bio: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gdr/people/bio/aydogan-kars Phone: +1 615 424 4681

Education:  Ph.D. in Religion (expected in March 2016) (ABD: Nov. 2013) History and Critical Theories of Religion; Vanderbilt University, Graduate Department of Religion, Nashville, TN, USA. Dissertation Committee: Dr. Richard McGregor (advisor), Dr. Lenn Goodman, Dr. David Wasserstein, Dr. Ellen Armour, external member Dr. Devin DeWeese (Indiana University at Bloomington)

 M.A. in Religion; Vanderbilt University, Graduate Department of Religion (2014).

 M.A. in Philosophy, with “best performance award;” Middle East Technical University, Turkey (2009). Master’s Thesis: World is an Imagination: A Phenomenological Approach to the Ontology and Hermeneutics of Ibn al-‘Arabi. (Supervisor: Dr. Yasin Ceylan) Thesis Committee: Dr. Yasin Ceylan, Dr. Mehmet Bayraktar, Dr. Ahmet Inam

 B.Sc. in Economics (English); Hacettepe University, Turkey (2005).

 Ankara Anatolian High School (German), Turkey (2000).

Doctoral Dissertation:  Sufi Paths of Negative Speech: Apophasis in Thirteenth Century Islamic Mysticism. My dissertation focuses on negative speech (apophasis) in Islamic thought, specifically negative theological paths in thirteenth century Sufism. The dissertation (i) problematizes the current approaches to apophasis and negative theologies in the study of religion, particularly in relation to Islam, (ii) constructs the first genealogy of the terms “apophasis” and “negative theology,” (iii) presents in-depth case studies that provide refined, contextualized analyses of Sufi performances of apophasis in the field of theology. I bring a fresh perspective to the field by approaching “apophasis” and “negative theology” as second-order, scholarly categories that are not sui generis religious, theological, or mystical. This perspective shift allows me to argue that contemporary studies on apophasis and negative theologies, as well as their reflections on Islamic Studies, are in large part responses to the challenges and demands of modernity. The remaining chapters of the dissertation focus on various negative theological positions on the divine essence in thirteenth century Sufism. This work not only constitutes the first book-length study of negative theologies in medieval Islam, it also makes wider theoretical contributions to the field by showing that negative speech, like every speech-act, is a historically embedded performance that should be carefully contextualized within the multi- layered discursive spaces that it affirms in order to operate.

CV – Aydogan Kars

Publications: A. Articles Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals:  “Two Modes of Unsaying in Early Thirteenth Century Islamic West: Theorizing Apophasis through Maimonides and Ibn ‘Arabi,” International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Vol. 74.3 (2013), pp.261-278.  “Maimonides Between Falsafah and Mutakallimun: Cosmogony in the Guide to the Perplexed,” Glossolalia, Yale University. Vol. 4, No. 2 (Spring 2012), pp.43-54.  “The Metaphor of ‘Distance’ in the Study of Religion: Four Case Studies,” International Journal of Science in Society, Vol. 3, Issue 1 (2012), pp.87-100. B. Book Chapters:  “Maqasid or Shari‘a? Secularism, Islamic Reform and Ethics in Modern Turkey,” in Maqasid al-Shari‘a and Contemporary Muslim Reformist Thought: An Examination. Adis Duderija (Ed.). Palgrave, Macmillan (2014), pp.127-150. C. Book Reviews & Book Review Essays Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals:  “Sufism and Society: Arrangements of the Mystical in the Muslim World, 1200-1800. Eds. John J. Curry and Erik S. Ohlander,” Journal of American Oriental Society, Vol.133, No.3 (2013), pp.565-568.  Book Review Essay: “A Nineteenth Century Progressive Islamic Gaze at the Legal Roots of Western Prosperity and Islamic Law: Mustashar ad-Dowla’s One Word,” Journal of Islamic Law and Culture, Vol. 13, Nos. 2-3 (July-October 2011), pp.253-257. D. Works-in-Progress:  “The Encounter of a Mu’tazilite Sufi and the ‘Literalist’ Ibn ‘Arabi, or, What is Negative Theology?,” The Discourse Research Center, University of Alexandria, University of Valencia and The Spanish General Consulate in Alexandria, Egypt.  Islam and Via Negativa: Negative Theologies in Thirteenth Century Sufism.  “Apophasis Triumphant:” Genealogies of Negative Theology and Negative Speech in the Study of Religion.  “Hermeneutics and Negative Theology in Maimonides’ Guide to the Perplexed,” Philosophy East West. (in the revision process.)  “The Fall of Baghdad and the Death of the Last ‘Abbasid Caliph: A Re-evaluation of the Allegedly Eye-Witness Account of Nasir al-Din Tusi.”  “A New Chronological Intra-Qur’ānic Reading of the Verse 51:2.”  AAR Group (2015-2021), workshop, and a subsequent edited volume project: Debating Negation: Major Trends and Perspectives in the Study of Apophasis (co-editor: C. B. Woods).

Languages Used in Research:  Arabic: Advanced level; advanced level student at Indiana Uni. and Vanderbilt Uni. 3 months experience in Morocco (Summer 2013, 2014).  Persian: Intermediate level; advanced [pishraft] degree in the ICPS (Tehran, Iran), and the Persian Education Center (Ankara, Turkey). 2 months experience in Iran (Summer 2008).  Ottoman Turkish Reading Level; intermediate. Successfully completed a graduate course in Ottoman, at METU, Department of History (Ankara, Turkey).  German: Advanced level; “Zweite Stufe Sprachdiplom,” in German.  French: Elementary level in reading. Successfully completed the graduate course “French for Reading Knowledge” at Vanderbilt Uni.  Turkish: Fluent.  English: Fluent.

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Teaching Experience (evaluations, course statistics and materials are available upon request): Instructor:  Islam in Historical Perspective. Dept. of Philosophy at Middle Tennessee State University, Spring 2016.  Comparative Religion: Comparative Mysticism. Dept. of Philosophy at Middle Tennessee State University, Fall 2015.  Ethics of Encounter. Dept. of Philosophy at Vanderbilt Uni., Spring 2013.  Otherness and Identity in Ethics. Dept. of Philosophy at Vanderbilt Uni., Spring 2012. Teaching Fellow & Teaching Assistant:  Encountering Religious Diversity. (Instructor: Dr. Nancy Lin.) Dept. of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt Uni., Spring 2015.  Introduction to Islam. (Instructor: Dr. Richard McGregor.) Grad. Dept. of Religion at Vanderbilt Uni., Fall 2014.  Religion and Culture of Morocco. (Instructor: Dr. Sherif Barsoum.) Dept. of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt Uni., Summer 2014.  Culture, Religion and Politics of Contemporary Arab Societies. (Instructor: Dr. Bushra Hamad.) Dept. of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt Uni., Fall 2013.  Religion and Culture of Morocco. (Instructor: Dr. Sherif Barsoum.) Dept. of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt Uni., Summer 2013.  Introduction to Islam. (Instructor: Dr. Tiffany Hodge.) Grad. Dept. of Religion at Vanderbilt Uni., Fall 2012.  Introduction to Islam. (Instructor: Dr. Richard McGregor.) Grad. Dept. of Religion at Vanderbilt Uni., Fall 2011.

Awards, Fellowships and Honors:  Visiting Faculty & Dissertation Fellow: Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Philosophy (2015-2016).  Promotionsstipendien / Dissertation Fellowship: Orient-Institut Istanbul, Max Weber Stiftung (August 2015 – February 2016).  Research Grant for the Workshop Project: Debating Negation: Major Trends and Perspectives in the Study of Apophasis (co-organized with C. B. Woods). Divinity School, Vanderbilt University ($500) (2016).  Research Fellowship: IFAO (Institut Français D’archéologie Orientale), Cairo, Egypt (2014- 2015) (declined).  Research Fellowship: Universität Bonn, Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg, Germany, “History and Society of the Mamluk Era (1250-1517)” (2014) (postponed).  Summer Research Grant: Divinity School, Vanderbilt University ($1,000 each summer) (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).  Tuition Scholarship and Departmental Stipend: Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University (2010-2015).  Opportunity Grant: Turkish Fulbright Commission ($500) (2009).  Best Graduate Courses Performance Award: Middle East Technical University, Department of Philosophy (2008).

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Employment & Professional Working Experience (Selected):  Visiting Faculty position and Dissertation Writing Fellowship at the Middle Tennessee State University, Department of Philosophy (August 2015 – July 2016).  Bibliographer in the Divinity Library at Vanderbilt University. Fields: World Religions & Islamic Studies (2011 – current).  Teaching Assistant & Instructor at Vanderbilt University (2011-2015).  Scientific Programs Assistant Expert in TUBITAK, the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey, at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Grant Committee (2006- 2010).

Academic Areas of Interest:  Sufism.  Islamic philosophy.  Apophasis, negative theology and discourse.  Comparative philosophy and religion.  Hermeneutics, phenomenology.

Paper Presentations in Peer-Reviewed Meetings (Selected):  “The Encounter of a Mu’tazilite Sufi and the ‘Literalist’ Ibn ‘Arabi, or, What is Negative Theology?,” The Second Andalusia in Alexandria Conference, Dec. 12-15, 2015, Alexandria, Egypt.  “Response to Dr. Matthias Fritsch’s ‘Deconstructive Contributions to Environmental Ethics: Self-affirmation, Suffering, and Holism’,” Eco-Deconstruction: Derrida and Environmental Ethics, March 20-22, 2015, Nashville.  “Sufism and Islamic Theology in the Study of Religion: a Genealogy of God’s Transcendence,” American Academy of Religion SECSOR Southeastern Regional Meeting, March 6-8, 2015, Nashville.  “Secularism, Shari‘ah and Religious Ethics in Modern Turkey,” the Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics (SSME) Conference, Jan. 9-12, 2014, Seattle, Washington.  “Limits of Negative Theology in Medieval Judeo-Islamic Philosophy: A Comparative Study on the Transcendence of God,” American Academy of Religion SECSOR Southeastern Regional Meeting, March 2-4, 2012, Atlanta.  “Nasir al-Din Tusi on the Destruction of Baghdad: A Reevaluation of an Allegedly Eye- Witness Account,” MESA (the 45th Annual Meeting of Middle East Studies Association), December 1-4, 2011, Washington D.C., USA.  “‘Distance’ in the Study of Religion,” the Third International Conference on Science in Society, August 5-7, 2011, Washington D.C., USA.  “Orientalism and Merleau-Ponty: Cultures like Two Hands, Touching and Touched,” Deutsch-Türkische Zukunftswerkstatt II, Dec. 2-4 2009, Ankara, Turkey.  “Social Sciences and Humanities at the Edge of Process Philosophy: An Orientalism Case Study,” Future of Process Thought Conference. The Highlands Institute For American Religious and Philosophical Thought (HIARPT). June 15-18, 2009, Highlands, North Carolina.

Boards of Editors:  Editorial Board Member of Asian Social Science (Nov.2013 – Nov.2014).  Associate Editor of the International Journal of Science in Society, Vol. 3, Issue 3 (2012).

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Professional Affiliations & Services:  American Academy of Religion – AAR, SECSOR. - “Negative Theologies and Apophaticism” Study Group (A22-331) (2015-2021) - Chaired “Islam, Violence and Non-Violence” session in the regional meeting of AAR (American Academy of Religion SECSOR Southeastern Regional Meeting), March 2-4, 2012, Atlanta.  Middle East Studies Association – MESA.  Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics.

Additional Education (Selected):  “Practicum: Certificate in College Teaching” program, Vanderbilt University (one semester: Spring 2013).  Intensive Summer School at SWSEEL, Indiana University, Bloomington: Advanced (Third Year) Arabic I & II (6 Credits; GPA: 4.00/4.00) (one semester: Summer 2012).  Seminar: the Qur’an in the Modern World, July 8-13, 2012, Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ (Summer 2012).  Intensive Summer School at the International Center for Persian Studies, University of Tehran (Iran): Advanced level [pishraft] Persian (one semester: Summer 2008).  M.A. Conditional in Philosophy; Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (24 Credits; GPA: 4.00/4.00) (two semesters: 2006–2007)  English Conditional; Hacettepe University, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ankara, Turkey (two semesters: 2000–2001).

Volunteer & Community Services (Selected):  Online Research Guides for Vanderbilt Divinity Library, and MTSU Walker Library e.g.: Islamic Studies http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/islam Islamic Mysticism http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/RLST4551 The Qur’an and Its Interpreters http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/RLST4554 Contemporary Arab Societies http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/REL8806 Religion and Culture of Morocco http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/RLST3890-Barsoum Encountering Religious Diversity http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/RLST1010 History & Critical Theories of Religion http://researchguides.library.vanderbilt.edu/hactor  Organized Roundtable: “Turkey Between East and West: Modern Turkey’s Foreign Policy,” Vanderbilt University, April 6, 2012.  Several guest lectures and presentations in Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN on Islam and its history (at West End Middle School, Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Nashville State Community College, Nashville International Airport, etc.).  Turkish Student Association at Vanderbilt University (secretary).

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References:  Associate Prof. Richard McGREGOR (Ph.D advisor); Vanderbilt University, Graduate Department of Religion, Islamic Studies Minor (Director), History and Critical Theories of Religion (Area Director), Nashville, TN. Office: +1-615-343-2462 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://as.vanderbilt.edu/religiousstudies/people/mcgregor.php

 Prof. David J. WASSERSTEIN; Vanderbilt University, Department of History, Nashville, TN. Office: +1-615-322-7801 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://as.vanderbilt.edu/history/bio/david-wasserstein

 Prof. Allen HIBBARD; Director of the Middle East Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN. Office: +1-615-494-8809 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.mtsu.edu/english/Profiles/hibbard.php

 Prof. Lenn E. GOODMAN; Vanderbilt University, Dept. of Philosophy, Nashville, TN. Office: +1-615-343-3158 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/philosophy/_people/_goodman.html

 Prof. Yasin CEYLAN (M.A advisor); Middle East Technical Uni., Dept. of Philosophy, Ankara. Mobile: +90-532-694-6539 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://phil.metu.edu.tr/tr/calisanlar/ogretim-elemanlari/yasin-ceylan

 Associate Prof. Abdurrahman ALIY, Istanbul University, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Letters, Department of Philosophy, History of Turkish-Islamic Philosophy Program; Director of Science and Society Program, the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (2007-2011), Visiting Scholar in Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University (2015-2016). Office: +1-615-322-6436 E-Mail: [email protected] URL: http://as.vanderbilt.edu/religiousstudies/people/aliy.php

 Dr. Sukru KAYA; Secretary of the Science and Society Department (2008-2014), the Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Ankara. Mobile: +90-505-966-5059 E-Mail: [email protected]

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