İhsan Fazlıoğlu is a Turkish academic and thinker who has conducted research in the fields of the history of Islamic thought, history of science and history of mathematics. Fazlıoğlu has examined the philosophical and epistemological structure of classical Islamic thought and has held teaching positions at various universities while actively participating in academic activities.

He was born in Ankara in 1966 to a family from Trabzon. After completing primary and secondary education he continued his studies in Istanbul. He graduated from Kadıköy Anadolu İmam Hatip High School in 1985.

Fazlıoğlu completed his undergraduate studies at the Department of Philosophy at Istanbul University, graduating in 1989. After his undergraduate degree he turned his focus to the history of science and history of mathematics and conducted research between 1990 and 1992 at the University of Jordan (Amman) and the Institute for the History of Arabic Science (Aleppo).

He completed his master’s degree in 1993 at the Department of History of Science at Istanbul University. He completed his doctoral studies in 1998 at the Department of Philosophy at the same university.

Fazlıoğlu’s academic career began with research on manuscript sources. He worked as a researcher at the Research Centre for Islamic History Art and Culture (IRCICA) between 1987 and 1990 and again between 1992 and 1996; in 1994 he conducted research on manuscripts in Cairo. In 1996 he moved to the Department of Philosophy at Istanbul University to continue his doctoral work. Between 2001 and 2002 he carried out research in the history of science at the University of Oklahoma. In June 2005 the Interuniversity Council recognized him as an associate professor and from August 2008 onward he continued his research on Islamic thought and the history of science at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University.

Fazlıoğlu’s work primarily focuses on three areas: the history of Islamic science, the Ottoman intellectual tradition and the relationship between mathematics and philosophy. In his research he analyzes the conceptual framework of Islamic-Turkish philosophy and science history and the structure of texts from the classical period.

His major published books include:

• Derin Yapı: İslam-Türk Felsefe-Bilim Tarihinin Kavram Çerçevesi
• Kayıp Halka: İslam-Türk Felsefe-Bilim Tarihinin Anlam Küresi
• Nazari Ufuk
• Sözün Eşiğinde
• Soruların Peşinde
• Fuzûlî Ne Demek İstedi?
• Kendini Aramak
• Kendini Bulmak
• Akıllı Türk Makul Tarih

Fazlıoğlu continues his academic work and teaching activities. He is actively engaged in research on Islamic thought and the history of science and delivers lectures and seminars at various academic platforms. His research on the Ottoman scientific tradition is widely referenced by scholars working in this field.