Frances to Kate and others... My understanding of realist pragmatism on this issue of what continues or exists in the world before signs is that phenomena does, and as categorically structured with monadic qualities and dyadic facts and triadic laws. Via evolution, continuent phenomenal things of raw essential matter that represent themselves internally become representamen that are not signs. Via further evolution by way of spontaneous sporting chance, represented continua that represent themselves as some other thing, but to themselves internally, will become existent phenomenal things that are objects, yet will still be representamen that are not signs. Via still further evolution, existent phenomenal objects of manifested substance that represent themselves externally as some other object to some other object externally, will become representamen that are signs. There are therefore continuing representamen of phenomena that are not signs and existing representamen of phenomena that are signs. In summary, what comes first in the evolving world are categoric phenomena or things structured as trichotomies, then synechastic representamen or objects by way of representational actions, then semiotic objects as representamen that are signs also by way of representational actions. In other words and basically, the world continues to evolve by the felt actions of representation, so that there are representamen that are not signs and representamen that are signs. The trichotic structure of the phenomenal categories is thus applicable to all things and objects in the world, from matter to life and mind; and of course to signs as icons and indexes and symbols. The action that turns a continuent phenomenal thing into an existent phenomenal object and such an object into an existent phenomenal sign is representation. Furthermore, it is feelings that are found to fill the world of all things and objects, and is the original drive by which phenomena act. This is why existent matter is held by realist pragmatism to be effete quasi mind, and thus a brute signer of those crude signs called signals. This sign theory is extremely rich and broad, and for some sign theorists like semioticians or semiologists they may prefer a limit on signs, and thus apply sign theory biotically to only organisms, and in some cases even epistemically or subjectively to only humans. In any event, all sign theories are applicable to the world at large or to objects in the world, such as token artworks and typical arts, which is actually my main interest in pursuing this realist and semiotic topic here. The assumption is that my notion of this baroque pragmatist jargon and notion can be shared with others to a degree, even if tentatively and provisionally.
Frances partly stated... Under realist pragmatism signs are merely ordinary objects that already exist as phenomenal qualities and facts and laws. Kate replied... Do you mean that the stuff of signs already exists and they don't become signs until they are used as such?
