Diagnosing the State: Medical Metaphors in Ottoman Political Writing

Abstract This paper traces the transformation in how Ottoman scribes, statesmen, and bureaucrats imagined body politic from sixteenth to nineteenth century by focusing on metaphors derived medicine human body. As others have shown, sixteenth- seventeenth-century political writing demonstrates a clear influence of Galenic Aristotelian Avicennan metaphysics conceptualizing state society. During eighteenth century, however, we see adoption Khaldunian conception society as an organic unity with determined lifespan, something that implies shift emphasis spatiality temporality polity. From early Tanzimat onwards, sporadic use modern medical, disease, germ-related concepts explain problems politics Our argument is instead sudden medical vocabulary due impact West, imagery gradually changed over seventeenth centuries response administrative challenges. In narrating this transformation, also reflect examining can contribute our understanding conceptual and, particularly case, concept “state”.