The Ethics of Giving in Ottoman Society This paper examines the ethics of “giving,” i.e. philanthropy, charity, and public works among the ruling elite and the wealthy, from the inception of the Ottoman State to the formation of its classical institions in the sixteenth century. Ottoman society was particularly noted for its extensive undertaking of public works including but not limited to mosques, medreses, caravansarais, Sufi lodges, hospitals, libraries, public kitchens, orphanages, fountains, bridges, water canals, and roads. Current scholarly output on “giving” have so far focused on the economic, social, and legal aspects of the waqf institution while emphasizing personal “piety” as the foundation creating public value. Piety was certainly an important element of the creation of public value in Ottoman society. However, this work argues that there was a culturally embedded, strong ethical imperative for “giving”in Ottoman society. One of the most extensively written learned traditions in Ottoman society was ethics. This tradition of ethical learning was not exclusively Islamic and pietistic, as presumed, but also secular and humanistic. Books on ethics were compiled as performative texts to be read aloud in gatherings and had a significantly higher rate of circulation than any other branch of learning. These ethical works commonly glorified virtues related to “giving” which undergirded the creation of public works. The works of such authoritative figures as Eşrefoğlu Rumi, Aşık Paşa, Yazıcıoğlu, Amasi, and Kınalızade helped create a very dominant ethical discourse on righetous government and society. Most of this ethical literature were composed by famed Sufis whose teachings were already effective among large constituencies. This popular literature on ethics established a moral regime by which members of society were evaluated and judged, especially the members of the ruling elite. So, members of the dynastic family, statesmen, and any well-to-do member of the society were expected to comply with the ethical standards that stipulated to generate public value. That’s how individuals acquired nobility in Ottoman society. This moral regime stipulated that wealth and power are commendable and legitimate as long as they are used to generate public value.