EMBODIED COGNITION, CHARACTER FORMATION, AND VIRTUE.

Brown, Warren S.; Reimer, Kevin S.

The theory of embodied cognition makes the claim that our cognitive processes are, at their core, sensorimotor, situated, and action-relevant. Our mental system is built primarily to control action, and so mind is formed by the nature of the body and its interactions with the world. In this paper we will explore the nature of virtue and its formation from the perspective of embodied cognition. We specifically describe exemplars of the virtue of compassion (caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities in L'Arche communities), speculating as to what might have been the formative influences in their character development. Embodied formation is understood in the context of the openness of human cortical systems to formation by social interactions, and in terms of the openness to reorganization and change of complex dynamical systems. Specific formative influences explored include interpersonal imitation, social attachment, language, and story.

COGNITION; SENSORIMOTOR integration; DEVELOPMENTAL disabilities; SOCIAL interaction; INTERPERSONAL relations

Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 2013, Vol 48, Issue 3, p832

0591-2385

Academic Journal

10.1111/zygo.12025