Extending Mutual Cognitive Environments. The Contribution of Rhetoric for Justice Across Different Cultures

Abstract The research aims to understand how neo-Aristotelian rhetoric can operate at the service of justice in contemporary society, governed by legal pluralism and so called “cultural relativism”. The research will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, which seeks to combine rhetorical studies with philosophy of law reflections. The contribution seeks to develop the concept of “mutual cognitive environment” borrowed from studies of C.W. Tindale, representing the possibility of sharing elements between different cognitive environments. In parallel with Tindale’s studies, the Italian legal philosopher V. Villa argues for the presence of sharing elements within different conceptual schemes. It is proposed to converge the studies of these two Authors in the direction proposed by M.C. Nussbaum, and to identify these elements of commonality with what the American Author calls “grounding experiences”, that is, universal spheres of experience comprehensible to every subject regardless of country of origin. Since rhetoric is a techné or art not only involving reason related to emotion but also ethical and pathic aspects of argumentation, it is argued that it is able to capture these universal spheres of experience in order to provide sharable elements over which to build bridges and secure rights between different cultures.