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Article 1216 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: MORIARTY@NDSUVM1.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Is semiotics an "informal logic"?
Message-ID: <91310.142252MORIARTY@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
Date: 6 Nov 91 20:22:52 GMT
References: <L9cwaB1w164w@depsych.Gwinnett.COM>
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network
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I don't know whether semiotics is an "informal logic" or not.
You'll find that Humberto Eco, "Semiotics" 1979 titles the
first chapter "0.  Introduction-Toward a Logic of Culture."
Apparently, a logic of some sort is at work in this field.
I prefer to think of it as an algebra, but that might be a
metaphor rather than a univocal statement.

This much is clear: a shift of metaphor from system to system
is always misleading.  The statement [x=y]/"semiotics" =
"informal logic" is not productive.  The cultural units
implied in the respective sememes cannot be identical because
the respective fields of referential signifying chains are not
identical.

The possibility exists that a code stipulating the pathways
between the two fields might be generated.  Any suggestions?

Michael E. Moriarty
Communication Arts Department
Valley City State University
Valley City, North  Dakota  58072 / 26 degrees Frnht.


