Origin of language and its application to hermeneutics

Authors

  • Jan Šteffl

Keywords:

hermeneutics, language, structuralism, neuropsychology

Abstract

The article aims to present two definitions of language, one from the point of view of traditional structuralism and the other within neurology. Following these definitions, the article then discusses possible hypotheses of the origin of language and emphasizes the concept of understanding. More specifically, in the field of neuroscience, the article pays attention to the concept of mirror neurons and applies it to the issue. The concept of understanding and empathy is highlighted here, and mirror neurons are interpreted with these notions. A kind of synthesis of the above-mentioned topics is then the application of language in understanding to another person. This is a problem to which not only structuralism but also hermeneutics contributes. At this point, the current concept of understanding is also mentioned, with discursive ethics being the most important. The paper is therefore multidisciplinary on the border of philosophy and neuroscience, but also presents various philosophical approaches. The link is then understanding as an ethical maxim.

Published

2023-02-20