Neuropsychologiczne podstawy argumentacji

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to prove that argumentative skills as being verbal and mental activities are derived from functioning of human nervous system. The author attempted to link argumentative activities interpreted from different points of view (formal logic, theories of literary language and rhetoric, logic of common sense, syntactic text units) to mental skills that are products of psychic processes. It allowed to come to the following conclusions: 1. Functioning of some structures of the left hemisphere of the brain corresponds with producing statements that are linguistic form of propositions being basic elements of argumentation. 2. More complex operations linked to syntax are a function of cooperation of particular structures of the left hemisphere. 3. Human argumentative activities are also a function of the right hemisphere that govern mental processes connected with guessing intentions, attitudes as well as with emotional contents, formulating conclusions, reading syllogisms, and non-verbal communication. The right hemisphere allows to acquire a required level of communicational competence that is necessary to reach one’s aim effectively, often with using argumentative strategies. 4. Functioning of some subcortical structures of the brain also allows efficient argumenta4. tion for it is linked to learning, memory, and attention. Taking all conditions into account it is necessary to consider argumentation to be a complex and subtle sphere of human activities. It cannot be conducted without cooperation of some particular structures of the brain joined with networks of neurons.