Reason and Reasoning from the Perspective of Neuroscience Based on Antonio Damasio's View and its Implications for Rational Education

The main purpose of this study is the investigation on the place of reason and reasoning in Damasio’s view (with the emphasis on somatic marker hypothesis) and displaying its implications for rational education. The question raised up here is: what are the implications of Damasio’s theory for rational education? The research has been carried out by using the descriptive – analytic method. The neurobiological view of Damasio by emphasis on the role of body and biological regulation (homeostasis, value principle, emotions and feelings) correlates the flourishing of reason with emotions and feelings. Damasio believes that the coherence of cognition and affectional aspects is a necessity that originates from the evolution of organisms in order to maintain and manage life. Hence the proper function of reasoning is fundamentally dependent on the real function of emotions and feelings. In this view, reason defects, rather than being cognitive in nature, are related to defects in the functions of feeling and emotion. Hence, if the emotional system functions improperly, the decision-making process and reasoning will be faced with a fundamental defect. Among the implications of the Damasio’s perspective for rational education are: a) the recognition of the profitable role of emotions in flourishing reasoning skills; b) utilizing the capacity of reasoning to modify the counseling role of emotions; and c) integration, instead of segregation, of curriculum based on the interrelation of thought-emotion education.