Further considerations on semiosis in evolution: Arbitrarity plus semiotic fitting, and/or mutability plus natural selection

Authors

  • Kalevi Kull Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12697/SSS.2023.51.1.08

Keywords:

agency, free choice, biosemiotics, existential semiotics, extended synthesis, general semiotics, learning, lower threshold, semiosis, theory of evolution, umweb, umwelt

Abstract

This essay attempts to combine some recent theoretical results in (bio)semiotics on arbitrariness, semiotic fitting, umwelt, choice, and extended theory of evolution into a more coherent whole. The proposed model describes a living being through its subjectivity and the ability to create meaning, which are often overlooked in models based on replicability. The concept of the umwelt is divided into two – the synchronic umwelt and the distributed or diachronic umwelt. For the latter, a new term ‘umweb’ is introduced. A mechanism of evolution is described in which arbitrary relating followed by semiotic fitting is somewhat analogous to the neo-Darwinian mechanism of random mutations followed by natural selection. The paper proceeds to discuss the alternativity and coexistence of these two radically different ways of evolution and learning.

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Published

2023-05-24

How to Cite

Kull, K. (2023). Further considerations on semiosis in evolution: Arbitrarity plus semiotic fitting, and/or mutability plus natural selection. Sign Systems Studies, 51(1), 171–194. https://doi.org/10.12697/SSS.2023.51.1.08

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