Yeminin ki Yüzü: Vicdan ve Toplumsal Kanaat Aras nda Osmanl Bireyi//// Two Sides of Oath: Ottoman Individual Between Conscience and Public Opinion

This article examines the “rational” reasons of the “individual” oath in the Ottoman Empire and evaluates the rational ground of “individual” oaths with examples of 'individuals' refraining from swearing in the Trabzon shari‘a court records. The article points out that the oath in the Ottoman Empire was a major factor to build the compatibility of conscience and public opinion. The Ottoman kadi or judge had no discretionary authority to reject the oath, which reflected the significance of an individual and an individual oath in the justice system. Another significant factor that determined the outcome of the court decision was refraining from taking an oath in the court. The very presence of individuals who refrained from taking an oath indicates the existence of 'rational' reasoning in the Ottoman courts.