Cell Language Theory, The: Connecting Mind And Matter

378 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter

b2861 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter “6x9”

condition, i.e., f followed by g leads to the same result as h, written as f ×

g = h (see Section 2.1).

The content of Figure 9.1 can be expressed in words thus,

B determines (or constrains) A which in turn determines C in such a

way that C is indirectly determined by B in the same way as A is. (9.4)

Figure 9.1 can represent the definition of the sign given in (9.5), if the

following identifications are made:

f = Þ

h = μ

g = missing in Peirce’s definition in (9.5).

A = Representamen

B = Object

C = Interpretant

The Peircean definition of signs (given at http://www.iupui.edu/

~arisbe/rsources/76DEFS/76defs.HTM) can be recapitulated as follows:

A “sign” is anything, A, which,

(1) in addition to other characters of its own,

(2) stands in a dyadic relation Þ, to a purely active correlate, B, and

(3) is also in a triadic relation to B for a purely passive correlate, C, this

triadic relation being such as to determine C to be in a dyadic rela-

tion, μ, to B, the relation μ corresponding in a recognized way to the

relation Þ. (9.5)

f g

Object RepresentamenInterpretant

(B) (A) (C)

h

Figure 9.1 A diagrammatic representation of the Peircean sign. f = sign production; g =

sign interpretation; and h = information flow, or grounding. Peirce often replaces “sign”

with its synonym, “representamen”.

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