Howard, List, This is common misconception of life as semiotics.
A more pragmatic understanding of the process would regard its object as the infinitive “to live” while the protein is an interpretant sign of the double helix sign. Regards, Jon http://inquiryintoinquiry.com > On Jan 28, 2015, at 8:30 PM, Howard Pattee <[email protected]> wrote: > > At 05:40 PM 1/28/2015, Gary Richmond wrote: > >> Ben wrote: >> In the case of object, sign, interpretant, insofar as the object determines >> the sign to determine the interpretant to be determined by the object as the >> sign is determined by the object, the order of semiotic determination is >> 'object, sign, interpretant', although object, sign, interpretant are not to >> be understood as acting like successive falling dominoes. > > HP: I don't think I can assimilate this kind of abstract description without > some specific examples. I would like to understand how these general concepts > can be used in an actual description of a realistic case of biosemiosis? > > For example, a molecular biologist or a biosemiotician would briefly describe > a case in normal language like this: The base triplets in the gene are > symbols that are interpreted (pace Barbieri who uses "coded") by the cell (a > very complex process that is itself coded in the genes) so as to determine > (construct) the protein object. > > Of course I agree with Ben that this triadic semiotic closure of symbol, > interpreter, object, "is not to be understood as acting like successive > falling dominoes." > >> Gary R: One also, I suppose, ought in this connection rehearse Peirce's use >> of the concept of determination, which is, of course, not physical >> determination. > > HP: In normal language one does say that the genetic symbols in an essential > way physically determine the protein objects (along with many epigenetic > modulations). > > Howard >
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