Dear Stan. Loet, List ...
It is simply incorrect to assume that language distinguishes our
species. Many species make use of language and, within the limits of
physiology, construct marks to communicate persistently with other
members of their species. It is the opposable thumb and other aspects
of our physical structure that enable us to write books, print,
construct libraries, etc...
The notion of "person-independent" knowledge makes little sense to me.
If there is a consistency between the knowledge that I embody and the
knowledge that Loet embodies it is due entirely to a regularity in our
personal behaviors derived from a commonality of relevant physical
structure and common habit. Common habit is still person dependent.
I have never understood the idea of "biosemiotics." This, or any other
qualified semeiotic, seems to introduce a fundamental misunderstanding
about the nature of semeiotic theory.
With respect,
Steven
--
Dr. Steven Ericsson-Zenith
Institute for Advanced Science & Engineering
http://iase.info
http://senses.info
On Oct 7, 2009, at 1:44 AM, Loet Leydesdorff wrote:
>> S: The difference between us and animals is basically language.
>
>> S: Why not 'check out' 'Biosemiotics'?
>>
>> STAN
>
> Dear Stan,
>
> I don't understand the "bio" in this. If we distinguish between two
> systems
> of reference for knowledge -- discursive knowledge to be attributed to
> interhuman communication, and personal knowledge to be attributed to
> human
> psychologies -- the latter one is biologically embedded by the body,
> but the
> former is only embedded by human minds (which are of course embodied).
> Knowledge can then also be globalized and become person-independent.
> In
> other words: discursive knowledge is generated bottom-up, but
> control can be
> top-down.
>
> Shouldn't it therefore be "psycho-semiotics"? "Bio-semiotics" is
> only valid
> for personalized knowledge. (For the good order, let me hasten to
> add that
> the two systems of knowledge -- the interpersonal and the personal
> ones --
> are reflexive to each other.)
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Loet
> ________________________________
>
> Loet Leydesdorff
> Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR),
> Kloveniersburgwal 48, 1012 CX Amsterdam.
> Tel.: +31-20- 525 6598; fax: +31-20- 525 3681
> l...@leydesdorff.net ; http://www.leydesdorff.net/
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