Peircean Semiotics Research Articles

The Indeterminacy of Reality and the Fallibility of Science

According to Charles Sanders Peirce, a thing does not need to be fully determined to be real. It becomes known to us as real in a process of indeterminate inference. We acquire knowledge of the real through cognition as a not-fully-determined sign, and because of this, our knowledge about the world is always fallible. Theories do not need infallibility in order to be established—they are accepted in a provisional manner, and this acceptance is a matter of the action of scientists who use empirical induction to filter hypotheses in an attempt to explain the world. Facts are not (yet) fully “saturated” so to speak, and this possibility of saturation moves forward in an indefinite process of inquiry. In this paper, I use the example of objective-reality determinism presented in a historical discussion concerning quantum entanglement. I try to interpret the metaphysical positions of the participants of this discussion in terms of indeterminism and Peircean semiotics. The underlying thought behind this approach is the belief that reality, within objective-reality determinism, is independent of any theory, i.e., independent of its representation, which is a proposition that is not in accordance with a fundamental semiotic position according to which reality is the true character of objects in representation.

Big data visualization through the lens of Peirce’s visual sign theory

Data from social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, are generated by people who produce, spread, share, or exchange multimedia content. Such content may include text, images, sounds, or videos. To derive insight into the behavior of social media users, researchers often use open-source technologies to visualize data and generate models for data analytics. One of the most popular open-source applications for managing and analyzing social media data is the open-source R programming language. Friedman and Feichtinger (2017) created an R package termed ‘Peirce’s sign theory R package’ to analyze data using Peirce’s principles of discovery. Though Peirce semiotics have been introduced in the context of computer programming languages, so far, no previous work has applied Peirce’s sign theory to data modelling of social media data. In this paper, we use Peirce’s sign theory R package as an overall framework to gain insight into data collected from Twitter. We assembled the data using Twitter’s Analytics algorithm, examined the relationships between variables, and visualized the results. Subsequently, we assessed the feasibility of analyzing those graphics using the triadic model set out by Jappy (2013) and Peirtarinen (2012) for the interpretation of visual signs. The study results showed that Peirce’s sign theory R package effectively analyzes and visualizes Big Data from social media feeds. However, due to complexities in both the social media data feeds and Peirce’s interpretation of meaning, as outlined by Jappy (2013) and Peirtarinen (2012), we were unable to develop algorithms that generate or suggest an interpretation of visual signs.

Onimia Szekspirowska i specyfika anglosaskiej onomastyki literackiej — na marginesie monografii Granta W. Smitha „Names as Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies”

The review discusses the 2021 monograph “Names as Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies” by Grant W. Smith. The structure and content of the monograph is presented, highlighting its grounding in classic Peircean semiotics and outlining the main categories of Shakespearian names. The publication of the book under review becomes the point of departure for more general remarks concerning the specific nature of literary onomastics in the USA and Europe.

Reading the represented city and society: signs, theory, and the dynamic interpretativeness of Peircean semiotics

In the era of visual media, cities, and society are represented, experienced, and interpreted through images. The need for interdisciplinary visual approaches, therefore, is indisputable. By focusing on cinema, this paper aims to develop a conceptual, methodological framework through which theory helps a broad range of researchers in social sciences, humanities, and arts interpret the represented phenomenon. Based on Peirce’s model of signs, the framework provides the basis for a dynamic interpretation of the city and society. This paper shows that Peircean cinesemiotics takes advantage of theory in three ways: First, as the basis that provides scholars with clues necessary for identifying eligible “image-signs”; second, as the guiding framework that helps them reach a final interpretation; third, as ideas are being criticized from visual perspectives. As an example of its application, using Jane Jacobs’ “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” the final part of the paper applies Peircean cinesemiotics to an image-sign from Death Wish (2018) and interprets it as the representation of safety/crime in a neighborhood.

SEMIOTICS ANALYSIS OF AHOK-DJAROT’S CAMPAIGN VIDEO ON YOUTUBE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE 2017 DKI JAKARTA GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

This study focuses on the messages conveyed in Ahok-Djarot’s campaign video on Youtube social media for the second round of the 2017 DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election by exploring and analyzing the elements of the icons, the indexes, the symbols, the lyrics, and the storyline using Peirce's semiotics based on the visual methodology. Various messages that have been conveyed through the video with the title “Video Kampanye Ahok-Djarot: Pastikan Pancasila Hadir di Jakarta” (Ahok-Djarot’s Campaign Video: Ensure Pancasila is Present in Jakarta) are very interesting to study because the video has become a viral video during the heating up political climate for the second round of the 2017 DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election. A form of support for Ahok-Djarot and also a form of criticism for the current condition of Jakarta articulated through a 2-minutes video with visual images as well as audio lyrics with subtitles packaged interestingly. The results obtained from the analysis are; when Ahok-Jarot’s campaign video for the second round of the 2017 DKI Jakarta gubernatorial election is mapped, it has three main scenes and each scene tries to convey a message to the public, especially the Jakarta citizens. The first scene shows that the current condition of Jakarta is still intolerant and tends to discriminate against minorities. The second scene tries to show that Jakarta should really hold the motto "Bhineka Tunggal Ika" (Unity in Diversity) and should not just use it as a mere motto. The third scene tries to show that Ahok-Jarot are the suitable leaders for the Jakarta citizens because Ahok has worked for Jakarta and has put real efforts for Jakarta. Moreover, Ahok-Djarot is a pair of candidates who can solve the problems described in the previous scene. In general, the issue raised in this controversial video is the issue of intolerance currently considered as a big problem for the Jakarta citizens. Keywords: Semiotics, Intolerance, Political Campaign, Youtube Social Media, Ahok-Djarot, Jakarta

ANALISIS IKON DAN INDEKS DALAM SEMIOTIKA CHARLES SANDERS PIERCE PADA FILM DOKUMENTER “KAWALI, IDENTITAS LAKI-LAKI BUGIS”

This study aims to describe Icons and Indexes in Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics in the documentary film “Kawal, Bugis Male Identity”. This study uses the theory of Charles Sanders Peirce which is often referred to as the "Grand Theory" in semiotics. Grand theory consists of three elements, namely sign, object, and interpretant. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method. The data in this study are in the form of a documentary film "Kwali, Bugis Male Identity" which was uploaded on Youtube "Colle Malli" on April 5, 2016. The source of this research data is written documents regarding kawali and making kawali both thesis and articles on the internet. The data collection technique used is literature study. The data analysis technique used is according to the Miles and Hubermen model, namely:data reduction, data presentation, conclusion drawing. Based on the research results from the documentary film "Kwali, Bugis Male Identity" on aspects of semiotics which include icons and indexes using Charles Sanders Peirce theory, it can be concluded as follows: from the results of the research, the data obtained reached 29 data consisting of 4 data icons with a percentage 13.80% and an index of 25 data with a percentage of 83.20%.

Inkblots as a cultural phenomenon: On the centenary of the Rorschach test

Abstract Introduction Approved or not, the Hermann Rorschach test can be considered more than just a test to a clinical trial. Reflection on it as a broader phenomenon may yield what is the most valuable: better knowledge of human nature. Objective This article aims to present the dual nature of Rorschach's inkblots: as a test of “guessing” the meaning of signs and as a test of perception. Method Narrative literature review on the meaning and interpretation of the Rorschach test. Results The nature and reception of inkblots. The inkblots have a dual nature: they require visual perception, and at the same time they are signs, whose meanings are extracted in the process of interpretation. This process is largely subject to cultural determinants; it also depends on the structure of stimuli and on their artistic expression. Charles Sanders Peirce's theory of signs and the sign nature of inkblots. According to Peirce, the interpretation of a sign, as a triadic structure, belongs to the ontic order and is a continuous process, taking place perpetually. Mental interpretation, as it were, follows the ontic dimension and constitutes a kind of reflection of this dimension. The phenomenology of perception and the interpretation of inkblots. Perception as viewed by Rorschach found its unintended, though strikingly consistent, complement in the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty. This is particularly clear in the acknowledgment of the role of the body in perception and in emphasis placed on the active and dynamic nature of the subject–object relationship. Rorschach and Merleau-Ponty vs. Peirce: similarities and differences. The seemingly completely different ways of understanding interpretation in Peirce's semiotics (indirect cognition) and in Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology (direct cognition), actually show important similarities. I draw attention to the ontic dimension of interpretation and its systemic character, which both philosophers stress, and to the view of interpretation as a perpetual process that is never completed, both in Peirce's semiotics and in Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology. Conclusion The semiotic and perceptual nature of the inkblots created by the Swiss psychiatrist reflects two basic and mutually complementary ways in which humans experience the world. This experience has both a psychological and an ontic nature, which makes it possible for an examination using the Rorschach test to become an encounter with an existential dimension.

Message of Nationalism in the Music Video 'Wonderland Indonesia'

Film is a communication medium that includes audio-visual types that are used to convey messages to a group of people watching. In addition to films, music videos which are also a medium of communication also convey messages in an audio visual work. One of the trending music videos during the celebration of the 76th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia (HUT RI) in 2021 is "Wonderland Indonesia". Through “Wonderland Indonesia” the landscape of Indonesia and the diversity of Indonesian culture is shown with epic cinematography. This study aims to determine how the message of nationalism in the music video "Wonderland Indonesia". The method used in this research is Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics of the music video "Wonderland Indonesia" on Alffy Rev's YouTube Channel. The conclusion of this study is that the message of nationalism in the music video "Wonderland Indonesia" is so that the Indonesian people have a sense of devotion for Indonesia, have courage in defending Indonesia, self-determination so as not to be shaken, purity of heart, and have an unyielding spirit and a spirit that never goes out.

An Analysis of The City Meaning in Three Paintings by Agung Tato (Semiotics Approach Of Charles Sanders Peirce’)

A painting is not just a meaningless manifestation of human artisticcreation. A painting is also a manifestation of a meaningful signcreated by a painter. This article focuses its study on the meaning ofthe city that is represented in three paintings by Agung Tato entitledSecond Level, City of Tommorow, and B…..The theory that it is usedto reveal the meaning of the three paintings by Agung Tato is CharlesSanders Peirce's semiotics theory. The method which used in thisstudy is an interpretive qualitative method. The interpretation factorof the sign which the basis of the analysis work is the factor that leadsthe choice of this method in this article. Based on the analysis that hasbeen done, it was found that in Agung Tato's painting of the city isinterpreted as an inhumane geography. Human is no longer as asubject who becomes central to the development or growth of a city.The city exists as a city itself, apart from the various living things inthe universe.

The Bloomsbury Companion to Contemporary Peircean Semiotics, edited by Tony Jappy

The Bloomsbury Companion to Contemporary Peircean Semiotics, edited by Tony Jappy

La comunicación, la semiosis y los sistemas vivos

En este trabajo analizo el proceso de la emergencia de la semiosis desde el punto de vista de la semiótica con la intención de explorar las implicaciones que podría tener para el campo de estudios de la comunicación respecto a la extensión de sus fronteras antropocéntricas. La investigación se encuentra fundamentada en la semiótica peirceana y en la cibersemiótica, una teoría transdisciplinar de la comunicación, la cognición, la información y la significación.

Conscious self-control as criterion for reasoning

AbstractThis paper gives an overview and discusses the details of the connection between Peirce's doctrine of reasoning and his philosophy of consciousness. While marginal in Peirce's semiotics and his conception of the mind, consciousness appears in a central role in the cognitive criterion that reasoning proper beself-controlled. A set of implications of this idea is investigated.

Metaphor, induction and innovation: Getting outside the box

Today more than ever innovation seems vital for us to anticipate the future and adapt to our rapidly changing world. But what is innovation and how is it accomplished? How can the mind generate innovative ideas? To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the human capacity to innovate, the present study aims at answering two basic questions: first, ‘what makes innovation possible?’ and second, ‘why are innovative ideas unusual?’. These questions are addressed within the framework of Peircean semiotics, in particular in the light of Peirce’s conception of inference. Different types of inferences are studied to determine the mode of reasoning which is central to innovative thought. While creativity and innovation are often analysed through the prism of abduction, this study puts forward an alternative approach drawing a parallel between modes of inferences and types of hypoicons. It claims that what makes innovation possible is metaphoric reasoning underlying induction.

Earth, wind, (water), and fire: Measuring epistemic boundaries in climate change research

Scientific research is governed by strict disciplinary norms and symbolic boundaries. This highly structured context is the space of probables, which dictates what research is likely to occur. Interdisciplinarity may disrupt these disciplinary norms by bridging epistemic gaps across disciplines to foster originality. But can interdisciplinarity actually expand the space of probables over time? In this paper, we analyze the evolution of the interdisciplinary field of climate change research based on 30,228 scientific abstracts from 2000 to 2019. Using novel word embedding techniques interpreted from the perspective of Peircean semiotics, we examine the interdisciplinary dynamics and epistemic boundaries of the field over time. Despite interdisciplinarity increasing over the last 20 years, epistemic boundaries become more entrenched, and research becomes more predictable. We conclude that interdisciplinarity does not erode boundaries, but instead operates within a highly structured and constrained space of probables.

INDUSTRI MEDIA BUDAYA POPULER ANALISIS SEMIOTIKA PEIRCE PADA DRAMA KOREA START UP

The focus of this studied lies in understanding the meaning behind the 'start up' Korean drama scene. The purpose of this study was to learned about the popular Korean culture. Available representations may help an interpretation of the performer starting the Korean drama. The approach used was a qualitative approach with a semiotic studied from peirce. There were 3 points of interest in peirce semiotics. Which were icon, index and symbol. The icon portrayed in drakor startup, the shooting site was at the sandbox and the hangang river. Both were known as an iconic sites in South Korea. Then the index seen in the startup film is when seo dal mi was having a religious service as she goes to her car test. Finally, the signed of drakor startup is the festival of chuseok. Further research is recommended for closer analysis so as to provide an even better representation of peirce semiotics analysis.

SIGNS OF GHOST APPEARANCE IN SHORT STORIES IN BATAVIAASCH NIEUWSBLAD (1936-1939): SEMIOTIC ANALISYS

In 2018-2019 the production of the Indonesian ghost story is much in demand and favored, even in 2020 the ghost content on YouTube is still lively and salable in the Indonesian market. The existence of ghosts cannot be separated from the daily lives of Indonesians.The author is interested in exploring further how the signs of the emergence of a ghostly figure believed by the people in the colonial era. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with an approach using the analysis of language semiotics from the perspective of Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics theory. 5 ghost stories published by the Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad newspaper in 1936-1939 were used as corpus. You can see ghost signs that appear using the senses of sight, hearing, touch and smell. No sign was found that uses the sense of taste as a receptor. However, it does not rule out the sense of taste as a receptor to appear in other short stories. There is only one short story that shows that something that is seen by a character is really a ghost that is "’ n griezelige nacht "Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad Wednesday edition, October 14, 1936.

Reconstructing the place branding model from the perspective of Peircean semiotics

This study reconstructs the place branding model from the perspective of Peircean semiotics. Taking rural tourism development in Dadong, Tibet, as a case study, the multi-method ethnographic approach to data collection consists of field observation and in-depth interviews. Place branding is defined as a dynamic negotiation between planned place image from place planners (immediate interpretant), villagers' place identity (dynamic interpretant), and tourists' constructed place image (final interpretant). These results confirm the importance in place branding of placemaking based on authentic place culture and restate the roles played by villagers as place ambassadors and authentic narrators of place culture. Furthermore, the study extends the understanding of place branding and will help destination planners manage destination brands more effectively.

Regardless if it is comedy, action, thriller, or biography: A review of urban crime in the 1980s cinema of Chicago

This study investigates the cinematic representation of city crime transactions in Chicago in the 1980s. The narrative nature of cinema provides an imaginative context for interpreting the physical and nonphysical dimensions of urban crimes. From a critical interpretive position, based on Peirce's semiotics, this study uses “urban cinesemiotics” as the method to select image signs, identify their associated Chicagoan objects, and interpret their design-oriented meaning. The theoretical roots of crime prevention through environmental design constitute the basis for the interpretation of movies. A total of 27 crime-related scenes from 9 Chicagoan movies made in the 1980s illustrate that most urban settings suffer from the lack of crime-preventive environmental design. In particular, natural surveillance (eyes on the street), encounter and enclosure, and border vacuums are major environmental factors that affect urban crimes in Chicago. Some crime scenes also depict why environmental design cannot influence individuals' criminal intentions necessarily nor can they solve urban safety single-handedly.

가상의 공유 공간에서 도상적 커뮤니케이션의 표현모드 -퍼스 기호학 관점

본 연구는 비대면 소통의 시대를 맞이하여 증가하게 된 디지털 커뮤니케이션에서, 보다 효과적인 소통의 결과를 얻기 위해 시도하고 있는 공간 공유의 다양한 양상과 공간에서 나타나는 도상적 커뮤니케이션의 표현모드를 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 연구의 방법으로서, 시지각 중심의 체화된 인지로부터, 퍼스의 기호 활동으로서 커뮤니케이션과 참여 주체들이 활동하는 공유 공간의 상호작용 디자인 문 해법을 고찰한다. 연구는 먼저, 도상적 커뮤니케이션이 체화된 인지로 시작하여 도상성을 재현하는 하위도상의 체현된 기호를 사용하여 소통하며, 이 과정에서 논리적 추론을 통해 의미를 생성하고 획득함을 밝힌다. 이를 실체화하는 하위도상은 자질의 닮음을 재현하는 이미지, 관계를 인식하도록 하는 다이어그램, 의미를 해석할 수 있게 하는 은유의 표현모드를 적용해, 사용자에 체현된 기호로서 작동하는 것을 확인한다. 이처럼, 디자인된 감각 양상으로 도상적 커뮤니케이션을 위한 디자인 작동과 의미생성에 대한 하위도상 각각의 표현모드와 소통 효과를 최근의 디지털 커뮤니케이션 프로그램들을 통해 확인한다. 두 번째로, 소통에 의한 의미 생성을 위해 디자인된 공간은 체현된 기호로서 대상과 다양한 양상의 관계를 맺기 위해 디자인된다는 것을 제시한다. 디자인은 물리적 구축 양상과 비물질적이고 비구축적인 가상공간의 연출 및 프로그램과 비감각적인 데이터의 표현 및 조작의 양상에까지 영향을 미친다. 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 감각을 이용한 단순 감지 및 인지의 단계부터 체현된 기호로 대상과 관계를 맺고 해석하는 것이 필요하다. 비대면의 가상공간 커뮤니케이션에서, 보다 효과적인 소통의 결과를 얻기 위해서는 논리적 추론을 통해 디자이너가 전달하려는 의도를 재현한 공간의 상징과 은유의 모드를 해석하고 재배치한 디자인이 적용되어야 한다. 공동체가 함께 디지털 공유 공간의 의미를 함께하고 발전시켜갈 수 있는 대화적 기호과정의 디자인 문해법이 적용되어야 하겠다.

Peircean anti-psychologism and learning theory

Abstract Taking influence from Peirce’s phenomenological categories (Firstness, Secondness, Thirdness), a notion of what we call bottom-up modeling has become increasingly significant in research areas interested in learning, cognition, and development. Here, following a particular reading of Peircean semiotics (cf. Deacon, Terrence. 1997. The symbolic species: The co-evolution of language and the brain. London and New York: W. W. Norton; Sebeok, Thomas and Marcel Danesi. 2000. The forms of meaning: Modelling systems theory and semiotic analysis. Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter), modeling, and thus also learning, has mostly been thought of as ascending from simple, basic sign types to complex ones (iconic – indexical – symbolic; Firstness – Secondness – Thirdness). This constitutes the basis of most currently accepted (neo-Peircean) semiotic modeling theories and entails the further acceptance of an unexamined a priori coherence between complexity of cognition and complexity of signification. Following recent readings of Peirce’s post-1900 semiotic, we will present, in abbreviated form, a discussion as to the limits of this theoretical approach for theories of learning that draws upon Peirce’s late semiotic philosophy, in particular his late work on iconicity and propositions. We also explore the corollary conceptions of semiotic resources and competences and affordances to develop an ecological perspective on learning that notably does not impose a linear developmental progression from simple to complex. In conclusion, we address some of the implications of this (post-Peircean) conceptualization for transdisciplinary research into learning.