On the Concept of Mediation ¹²⁴⁵

In L. Vygotsky heritage the philosophical concepts underlying his psychological theory proved to be the most lasting. Apparently the concept of mediation is the most significant among them. All knows the Vygotsky's statement about human mental functions' specific features owed to «psychological tools» that mediate interrelations of intellectual subjects and objects of thinking. But in spite of the fact that importance and significance of this data are acknowledged by many researchers, there is no a single opinion both on its treating and on its further development. In this article the author makes an attempt to evaluate critically the philosophical meaning of mediation and offers pluralistic positions. Mediation is not a single process, but few of them. In some forms it approaches us to the world around for a greater degree, than keeps us away from it.

Keywords: L.S.Vygotsky, mediation, psychological tools, perception, thinking, subject

Column: Discussions and Discourses