Naturalization of Philosophical Concepts Underlying Interculturality and Proposal of the Neurocognitive Model 'Elemental Intercultural Imprint'

Abstract

Objective: The study proposes an exploration of dyads (philosophy-cognitive neuroscience) that constitute the basis of interculturality, leading to the postulation of the Elemental Intercultural Imprint as a neurocognitive model that impacts the ontological notion of 'interculturality,' viewed under the naturalizing project. Methodology: An analytical conceptual methodology was implemented, aiming to demonstrate the modes of naturalization of philosophical concepts descriptively and critically. The following hypothesis is maintained: the progressive naturalization of consciousness, self-control, identity, social mind, alterity, and morality can reveal the neurocognitive mechanisms of interculturality in individuals. To this end, thenaturalization of consciousness as attention, identity as self-reference memory, self-control as self-regulation, mind (social) as Theory of Mind, alterity as empathy, and morality as moral cognition are analyzed. Results: The conceptual analysis in the reviewed studies found that partial epistemological transposition and methodologicalsymmetry are the most common mechanisms of naturalization of the components of interculturality, and that its neurocognitive architecture allows for the incorporation of other components. Conclusions: It is concluded that the proposed neurocognitive basis is indispensable for the empirical study of interculturality.