Essay on Semiotics

By S. Roof Nov 7,1993

OBJECT: The Thing Is

Semiotics is a general theory or study of signs and symbols. The great backdrop to semiotics is 'Universe' itself, the great un- fathomable plenum of bits, bagels, and baggage which somehow evolves itself through time into something called 'awareness'. The physical sciences treat Universe as being sub-symbolic, i.e. the whole and its parts are functionally connected or related, but each and every part 'is' what it 'is'. Knowing all the 'facts' becomes all you need to know and all you can know. Quantum Physics breaks somewhat from this tradition, with non-locality theorems and uncertainty theorems, but the basic orientation remains rooted in logic and causality.

The prime template for discovery may be expressed by A = A , A != B, and A = Function(B). I wish to call this Ground or Level Zero. This level of discovery looks at Universe at its most discrete and objective level. One might call Ground Zero the 'great equalizer'. At this level, everything consists of unique space-time events which are ubiquitous only via generalized laws or relationships formulated by awareness. I call it 'great equalizer' because when EVERYTHING IS UNIQUE then all things share this one great ubiquitous quality - just another thing in a great big world. This principle of Ground Zero operates on all to-be-discussed future levels. It is the first principle of discernment of OBJECT. OBJECT may be demonstrated as simple or multiple curvilinear trajectory of non-unique quality or qualities within space-time.

1) SYMBOL: The Name's the Game

Semiotics recognizes that Universe consists of more than OBJECT. The very existence of this 'more' allows discernment of the above as an object of discussion! The missing factor of course is "awareness". Now 'awareness, consciousness or what-have-you' is a very slippery topic because it's very nature is 'transcendence'. Admission of this term as viable object for study (Ground Zero Demographics) leads one on a long journey which may never end but which none-the-less always returns one home with a new appreciation for what 'home' is. Symbols form the great underpinning for this branching out from Ground-Zero. Semiotics recognizes SYMBOL as 'real' and rooted in Ground Zero.

Given that, Semiotics goes on say that symbols partake in some small measure of the nature of 'awareness'. Symbols, by definition, refer to something else. The weak or initial use of symbol is as 'sign'. Signs lead or direct 'awareness' toward some OBJECT or Ground Zero entity. Semiotics suggests that 'signs' form the initial templates for 'awareness' to enter Universe. Application of the Ground-Zero-Discernment-Principle to signs leads to a stronger use of the word 'symbol'. Symbol in the strong sense uses 'symbol' as an actual representation of some OBJECT. This template of discovery may be expressed by A = B.

Now, symbols are 'objects' in their own right so 'awareness' apparently enters Universe by way of masquerade. Awareness takes one dumb thing and treats it like it were some other dumb thing. Pretty dumb, huh! The pretty thing, really of course, is that 'meaning' or discovery happens via the release or recovery of said thing after such treatment. Ground-Zero logic says , OK if A != B but A = Function(B) call it Symbol(B), then pragmatically speaking ... "if, we have at some time say 'A', then awareness connecting across time can transform that 'A' into a B. Wow!, that means we might as well call B by the name "A". "A" has become a symbol for B. This works so long as awareness doesn't forget that A != B but A = Symbol(B). If it does, 'awareness' is stuck with an apparent OBJECT with tarnished reality. An abstraction so to speak which has lost its 'true referent'. B may not even exist! Error enters Universe as a possibility, by the introduction of symbols.

Possibility and Probability have their origins here also. The interesting thing, however, lies in the fact that we are talking process here. Symbols by reaching across time can transform objects because* symbols themselves are rooted in Ground Zero. The damnedest thing, however, is that anything whatsoever may be used as a symbol! Also a symbol may refer to anything whatsoever. The two restraints are that a symbol have only one referent and that awareness be involved! Symbols are basically acausal. To recap, we have two levels now with a connecting template called SYMBOL-OBJECT or SUBJECT-OBJECT relationship. This prime template forms the relational bridge between levels of abstraction, each which may have its own unique relational laws but which relates to the other as being more or lesser close to Ground Zero. 'Abstraction of level' forms the bridge whereby Awareness enters Universe*. Level 0) deals with 'concrete' objects. Level 1) deals with 'symbolic' objects. Symbols or Level 1) objects form the archetypes for transformation of awareness in, into, and out of the real world. Symbols 'un-level' the playing field so to speak. They also provide the basis for 'Level' discernment.

2) INFORMATION: Boxes of Symbols

The transcendent nature of awareness implies that a higher level of abstract study is always lying in the wings waiting to be objectified. Information theory forms the basis of our Second Level of awareness. Symbols may be 'bundled' or 'chunked' into higher-level symbols. These higher-level objects may be simple or aggregate but the essential feature is the introduction of 'symbolic-bundling'. This process of higher-level-awareness objectifies a symbol-object pair into one higher-order object. Its object-uniqueness is specified by unique assignment to position, place, and time. This constitutes 'form'. The symbolic aspect refers to 'content'. I shall call this higher-level object a CODON.

All (?) codons partake of Zero-Level uniqueness, yet each has a content 'bundled' within it which reveals its symbolic aspect. Consider a computer. A computer typically has a memory space where physically hardwire-precise locations are intentionally patterned in a meaningful way. i.e. a particular location has some pattern that acts as a symbol which can be translated or connected to some other symbol or object. The usual process whereby most computers do this is by letting voltage-on-off patterns represent binary numbers which in turn represent standardized language symbols. Any pattern may be translated as binary number, given a large enough number.

Now pattern requires spatial extension, so a CODON or memory location within a computer typically represents a bundling of discrete on-off symbols into one symbol which returns a value upon request. Every address has finite, discrete value. The address is unique but value contained therein is ubiquitous. Meaning is the translation of address into value and address-value into object; 'meaning' is this and more. CODONS require space and encode pattern. This meaningful encryption of pattern is called INFORMATION. A CODON may be said to convey some particular meaningful pattern or quantity of INFORMATION. INFORMATION refers to the spatial requirements of CODONS. The measure of information a particular codon conveys is determined by the total number of possible messages a codon is allowed to represent. Being symbolic, a codon may vary in time and be used to represent or convey many different meanings, but its discrete uniqueness demands that only one message may be represented at any one time.

Mathematically, I = log2( N ) where I is 'measure of info content' and N is total number of possible encodings'. This relation is by definition, but the log2() suggests that a higher level function prefers log2() representation.

for the definitive treatment read "The Mathematical Theory of Communication" by Claude E. Shannon and Warren Weaver

Information Theory traditionally ignores meaning or content, and focuses instead on studying the Ground-Zero constraints which determine the objective ways, means,and uses of information. Semiotics recognizes Information Theory as Second-Level diagnostics of symbolic-bundling*. Semiotics* also recognizes* Third-Level apprehension of this Second-Level.

3) Language

Language forms the bridge into Level 3 awareness. Awareness of information occupying space-time gives rise to the possibility that information may move from A to B. We call this process communication. Communication generally applies to information transfers between thinking entities, but Level 2 (Information Theory) actually only requires* symbolic functionality. Sequence forms the backbone of Language. At Level 2, CODONS are unique bundles of information. Pattern encoding may be sequential but not necessarily. Sequential order patterning allows one to connect strings of CODONS together into new symbols.

The problem with Level2 structuring, however, is that CODONS take up space and they are basically innumerable. A different symbol for every bit of information takes a lot of space and a lot of energy. Language has a nice solution. Store a set of special codons so that each one's content reflects only its position in a sequence. What we now have is a sequence of codons which are unique by value instead of being unique by position ( see Level2 ). The referential aspect has been twisted so that the codons are in a sense self- referential. The purpose of the ABC's or the computer ASCII set will now become clear.

By permutation in space-time of any arbitrary string of these special codons, we may construct other equally unique-by-value strings without having to add any new symbols! If we allow strings to have varying size, the number of permutations is virtually unlimited. Something profound appears embedded here. Generalization comes into awareness. In a sense each codon carries it own identity within so it is free to be used generally without worrying what its referent might be. An 'A' is an 'a' is an 'a' no matter where it may be. The string itself has become a symbol and has only one referent. A little redundancy has been introduced to lessen the demands of uniqueness. How strange. Implicit here also is the ability to store root meanings in a generalized way which also may be spliced, diced, and permuted in similar ways. Similarity and modes of comparison, also loom into view. In fact, thought itself, may perhaps be attributed to this process. Even simple self has its origins here. Awareness takes on the barbarian hordes of chaos and forges order. Talking about such things leaves me feeling unsure of my footing so lets recap in the next section.

RECAP

0) Ground Zero PRECEPT causal value 1) Symbol SCEPTRE acausal structure 2) Information* PERCEPT formal function 3) Language* CONCEPT informal process*

Every act of awareness is unique. Awareness always transcends its object of reference. Awareness is symbolic by definition*. Awareness extends itself into space-time by imbuing objects* with symbolic charge. Symbols bridge points in space-time. Awareness is free to detach and re-associate referents with different symbols. Symbols may refer to symbols. Symbols may be self-referential. Awareness abstracts symbols from all levels and objectifies Symbol->symbol references.

Self-referential abstractions compress and generalize symbols for reuse. Awareness flows from symbol to object as de-referencing energy release. Awareness flows from object to symbol as encapsulation of energy into pattern*. Awareness is circular. Symbols* can be partially self-referential, i.e. the referent may overlap the symbol itself! Awareness of partially self-referential structures leads to fractal recursion. Symbolic* de-referencing of self-referential* structures generally leads awareness into a spiral chase of diminishing returns. Certain fractal relations may emerge however which encourage awareness to remain trapped in recursions which have haunting self-similarity yet are always changing.

Reality takes on a chimerical quality as the unknown but knowable referent dances before awareness always slightly out of reach. Such fractal* relations may form basins of attraction which persist out of reach yet which lead awareness from many different* directions. 'Referent* chasing' forms trajectories in symbol-space-time. The most fearsome attractor of all is perhaps awareness* itself!