Cf: Sign Relations, Triadic Relations, Relation Theory • Discussion 7
https://inquiryintoinquiry.com/2022/04/05/sign-relations-triadic-relations-…
Re: FB | Dan Everett
https://www.facebook.com/dan.everett.1884
::: On the Origin of Symbols and the Descent of Signs
https://www.facebook.com/dan.everett.1884/posts/286365076993646
All,
A conversation with Dan Everett on Facebook led me to explain
the following point about symbols a little better, or at least
in fewer words, than I think I’ve ever managed before.
Symbols are the genus, the equipotential stem cells of all signs.
Icons and indices are the degenerate species, the differentiated
specializations.
This a consequence of triadic relation irreducibility.
A further consequence is that symbols do not evolve from
icons and indices but the latter devolve from symbols.
To say symbols are the genus of signs is to say every sign has
the generic potential of a symbol. This means when we see an
apparent progression from degenerate species to genuine symbols
it is not evolution or even development properly speaking but
more akin to release of inhibition.
Regards,
Jon