We learned with sadness of the passing of Ali Başak Karatay on 24 November 2025.
A distinguished logician, philosopher, and educator, Ali Başak Karatay played an important role—together with Teo Grünberg—in introducing modern approaches to logic in Turkey. Born in Istanbul in 1941, he studied law at Istanbul University, where his growing interest in logic led him to Grünberg, who became a key intellectual influence. Despite having no formal training in philosophy or logic at the time, Karatay was admitted to the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned MAs in both philosophy and mathematics in 1971. He later joined the Algebra and Foundations of Mathematics program at UC Berkeley, then led by Alfred Tarski, before returning to Turkey for mandatory military service.
Between 1974 and 1987, Karatay taught mathematics and philosophy at Middle East Technical University and Boğaziçi University. He subsequently completed his PhD in Philosophy at Syracuse University in 1999 and joined the Philosophy Department at Boğaziçi University, where he continued to teach and mentor students even after his retirement in 2008.
Ali Başak Karatay was widely respected for his intellectual rigor, humility, and dedication to teaching. He is survived by his wife, Professor Canan Karatay, MD, and his son, Mehmet Karatay.
This notice was prepared with the contributions of colleagues and friends.
(Alp Eden RC ’76; Gürol Irzık RC ’73)
With condolences from the Robert College community.
