The Ottoman World and the Western Economy

The Ottomans were working to establish a stable economic system, while the Western capitalist world was developing an economic system that prioritized increased earning and consumption. Over time, this emphasis on maximizing earning and consumption became a central priority in Western capitalist nations while the Ottomans focused on balance and sustainability in society. The development of the different economic systems and mentalities between the Ottoman Empire and the Western world took a long time to unfold. The Ottoman Empire deliberately created economic and social systems that differed from those of modern capitalist nations. They allow us to draw comparisons between the altruistic human, considered the “most honorable of all creation,” and the self-interested homoeconomicus, from the perspective of homoethicus. This book aims to encourage reflection on these issues and proposes the need for a new understanding of ethics, economy and civilization that considers both inner peace and prosperity for humanity.