Apprehension

This article explores Iain McGilchrist’s discussion on the concept of apprehension as described in Chapter 5 of The Matter With Things. McGilchrist contrasts the left hemisphere’s role in apprehending the world—physically and linguistically—with the right hemisphere’s role in comprehending the broader context of experience. The left hemisphere is associated with the capacity to grasp and manipulate objects and language, which is evident in the connection between speech development and hand movements. When the left hemisphere is damaged, as in the case of certain strokes, the ability to grasp both physically and metaphorically can be impaired, leading to conditions such as ideomotor apraxia. Conversely, the right hemisphere is more involved in exploring the world, emphasizing the holistic understanding of experiences. The article also discusses the implications of damage to the left hemisphere on language, noting that while representational language abilities might be compromised, the underlying comprehension and connection to reality, mediated by the right hemisphere, often remain intact.

  • Understand the distinct roles of the left and right hemispheres in apprehending and comprehending the world.

  • Recognize the connection between speech development and hand movements as mediated by the left hemisphere.

  • Identify the implications of left hemisphere damage on physical and linguistic abilities, including conditions like ideomotor apraxia.

  • Explore the differences between the left hemisphere’s role in manipulating language as a symbolic system and the right hemisphere’s holistic understanding of language and reality.

  • Analyze the impact of left hemisphere damage on the ability to use language as a representational system.

  • Appreciate the right hemisphere’s role in maintaining a grounded sense of reality despite impairments in the left hemisphere’s symbolic processing.

Become a Member