Now that I've outlined the basic logical structure of the 15 Signs, we are prepared to begin to flesh out what this all means.
As already outlined previously, the periods can be thought as four different aspects of the sign that can be “filled” with one of the three categories. Furthermore, these periods or aspects are always “present” in the sign. We may thus approach the sign from its aspect of:
Grounding: how the sign establishes and grounds itself.
Presentation: how the sign presents itself.
Representation: how the sign represents (its object).
Communication: how the sign communicates or mediates information (from its object to the interpretant).
Got it, but what is actually happening, when the sign has, let us say, 3rdness in the Representation Period? Let us unpack this.
Categories on the Four Periods
Grounding Period
In this period the sign grounds itself. This is the most basic period, which determines all of the other ones. When this period is active (i.e. forming a habit), there is active perception (Perception Phase). When the Grounding Period is:
1stness: there is Grounding of pure, unrealized possibility—a chaos without any actual effect. It is an unconscious, immediate emotional aura, characterized by spontaneous fluctuations devoid of consequence. This state entails an unreflected, unconscious flow of immediate emotional qualities. Something utterly original and novel—a quality in its own right without any specific meaning or effect.
2ndness: there is Grounding of an actual, forceful percept or perceptual fact—whether existent or imaginary—that produces a fluctuation resulting in an actual effect. It is the minimal action in space-time — a slight disruption in a system due to a stimulus. It is an effective change, a factual perception, an instant, a concrete event in history, an existent entity, something that irritates, insists, or resists.
3rdness: there is Grounding of a perceptual judgment, an idea that subsumes percepts/perceptual facts into a pattern, forming a metaphor. It can be thought as the probability density function that governs the percepts/perceptual facts. The unconscious and unreflected sense of the flow of time. It is the aura of interpretational possibilities, the elemental aesthetic enjoyment. It's the initial stage of rational thought, the aesthetic inference that underlies all logical reasoning. The fundamental stable structure in space-time grounding information.
If the Grounding Period crystallizes into a rigid habit, the system loses its capacity for being informed as no novelty flows to the system. It enters a state of stillness, indifference, where no perceivable changes occur. It becomes entirely redundant, drawing no attention, much like superconducting material or a vacuum.
Presentation Period
In this period the sign presents itself, which may produce presentative information. When this period is active (i.e. forming a habit), there is active experiencing (Experience Phase). When the Presentation period is:
1stness: there is a Presentation of a sheer quality of feeling—original, unexpected, and spontaneous. The potential for an actual effect, a state of clear conscience or inattention, perfect meditation. Purposeless yet pleasurable play with possibilities.
2ndness: there is a Presentation of a shock, friction, insistence, and resistance arising from an existent source. It is the forceful energy arriving to the system. It forms, deforms, and strains the system—a forceful impact and blow of brute experience. It's something given, causing abrupt changes or phase transitions. It's the spontaneous instant reaction to a stimulus. The final actual effect, the realization of a sign, or the conclusive effect of a sign created in thought.
3rdness: there is Presentation of patterns or habits, ideas ready for representation. It is something general and universal. Conditioned responses, desires, plans of action, beliefs, strategies, and expectations. It's the habit or tendency to perform certain actions in specific ways. It involves presentative information that remains malleable—a purpose susceptible to development and chance.
If the Presentation Period crystallizes, we encounter rigid dynamic laws governing matter. This crystallization restricts 1stness (novelty and chance), and, therefore, the system adheres obediently to teleological laws (3rdness), such as gravitation, that govern bodies of mass. The resulting rigidness, caused by crystallization, enables the prediction of the trajectories of physical bodies.
Representation Period
In this period the sign gains the ability to represent its object, which may produce representative information. When this period is active (i.e. forming a habit), there is active understanding (Understanding Phase). When the Representation period is:
1stness: the representational relationship (between the sign and the object) is merely qualitative or a matter of possibility. There’s no clear distinction between the sign and the object. The representational purpose guiding the sign is mere possibility having an element of spontaneity. The representation is not fixed but open—an openness seen in art, like Dada poetry, fluid unconstrained purposeless artistic expression.
2ndness: the representational relationship is existential and holds a connection—either physical, causal or mental. It has the capacity to produce an existent effect. The sign’s representational purpose is represented by constraints and limitations—a protest, a sign limiting access to rooms, traffic signs, signs denoting first or second class in trains, national borders. By denoting the object the sign constrains its representational possibilities — footprint is a sign of foot, bullet hole is a sign of a bullet.
3rdness: the representational relationship is usual or “normal”—an established convention. The convention or habit mediates between the sign and the object. Norms governing behaviour, rituals, roles, and social conventions. Representations of status. Representative information is subject to change based on their usage: symbols are polished, norms and cultural behaviour evolve and undergo change over time.
If the Representation Period crystallizes, we have stereotypical representations, biases, clichés, and signs that represent by conditioning—gestures, triggers, commands, verbal cues.
Communication Period
In this period the sign can finally communicate the Form from the Signs Object to the Interpreter (or to the interpretant, as we like to distance ourselves from any psychological connotations). When this period is active (i.e. forming a habit), there is active sharing (Sharing Phase). In this period communicational information is mediated. When the Communication Period is:
1stness: there is Communication of solely the qualities of the object—like a crucifix, a photograph, or ultra-realistic art (wax sculptures). Communication is open to original and spontaneous interpretations, fostering the fruitful communication of art. It is an open-minded mood, an opening of the heart, a playfulness akin to playing games.
2ndness: there is Communication of the existential dimensions of the object. It induces a change in the interpreter. Conditioned communication, like commands given to troops. The transfer of information and the understanding of propositions. Learning new information, comprehending news, “getting the message”, slogans, advertisements.
3rdness: there is Communication of the form of the object in a habitual way. Conveying a purpose or an ideal that governs action—a guiding principle. It represents an idea capable of changing habits and fostering long-lasting change. It is the ultimate purpose or aim shaping our whole conduct. An informative synthesis. The communicative norms within a community, the civility of discourse.
If Communication Period crystallizes, there's a formation of a closed system governed by fixed aims and communicational purposes. Totalitarianism, fundamentalism, ideology, stiff rituals and traditions, liturgy.
Couple of Examples
Let us quickly try to apply these descriptions.
So, what about sign #6 [3111]? Its…
Grounding is 3rdness: An idea that subsumes perceptions into a pattern, forming a metaphor. The aura of interpretational possibilities and the initial stage of rational thought.
Presentation is 1stness: Presentation of a sheer quality of original, spontaneous feeling. A state of clear conscience or inattention, perfect meditation.
Representation is 1stness: The representational purpose guiding the sign is mere possibility having an element of spontaneity. The representation is not fixed but open.
Communication is 1stness: Communication is open to original and spontaneous interpretations.
As the Grounding is 3rdness, it is something interpretable and familiar. But all of the other periods are 1stness, so it has a lot of potentiality and has a sort of an esthetic nature. It is the fundamental germ of an idea. The first stage of an inspiration. Or it may be background noise of our experience, like dirt on our screen that we don’t pay attention to. Something unnoticed causing no kind of shock or surprise mediating no information.
What about sign #5 [2222]? Its…
Grounding is 2ndness: It is an effective change, a factual perception, an instant, a concrete event in history, an existent entity, something that irritates, insists, or resists.
Presentation is 2ndness: Presentation of a shock, friction, insistence, and resistance arising from an existent source.
Representation is 2ndness: The representational relationship is existential and holds a connection—either physical or mental.
Communication is 2ndness: Communication of the existential dimensions of the object. It induces a change in the interpreter.
This is a sign of pure 2ndness. It is the final effect of some material shock. Brute collision with something. Unpleasant unfamiliar surprise. Something unreasonable that cannot be explained (as it has no 3rdness).
What about the sign #8 [3221]? Its…
Grounding is 3rdness: An idea forming a metaphor. It's the initial stage of rational thought, the aesthetic inference that underlies all logical reasoning.
Presentation is 2ndness: Presentation of a shock, friction, insistence, and resistance arising from an existent source.
Representation is 2ndness: The representational relationship is existential and holds a connection—either physical or mental.
Communication is 1stness: Communication is open to original and spontaneous interpretations.
It is something interpretable and therefore familiar as Grounding is 3rdness. It has forceful existence (Presentation=2ndness) and is existentially connected to its object (Representation=2ndness). But it mediates no clear message as communication is 1stness.
It is an experience of a concrete, familiar thing, yet it doesn't convey any definitive message. “Uninterpreted” familiar existent. Something familiar before we “connect the dots”. Its meaning lingers in the air, unresolved. Like hearing a familiar ringtone before the impulse to answer, or catching a familiar scent from the kitchen before understanding its possible meaning.
What about the sign #10 [3311]? Its…
Grounding is 3rdness: The probability density function that governs the percepts/perceptual facts. It's the initial stage of rational thought, the aesthetic inference that underlies all logical reasoning.
Presentation is 3rdness: Presentation of patterns or habits, ideas ready for representation. It is something general and universal.
Representation is 1stness: The representational relationship (between the sign and the object) is merely qualitative or a matter of possibility.
Communication is 1stness: Communication of solely the qualities of the object.
Presentation is 3rdness having thus the form of a habit or pattern, making the presentation general rather than a simple presentation of individual existent entities. It's a pattern/law/habit/rule.
Yet, it represents qualitatively through similarity (Representation=1stness) and leaves communication open-ended (Communication=1stness). Therefore, it's a pattern of qualitative representation without a clear message. These are the qualities that need to be embodied in certain representations, such as the specific colors of traffic lights, the molds on coins, or the shapes and colors in logos.
And what about signs #14 [3332]? Its…
3rdness: It's the initial stage of rational thought, the aesthetic inference that underlies all logical reasoning.
3rdness: Presentation of patterns or habits, ideas ready for representation. It is something general and universal.
3rdness: The representation of usual or normal relationships—an established convention.
2ndness: Communication of the existential dimensions of the object. It induces a change in the interpreter. The transfer of information and the understanding of propositions. Learning new information, comprehending news, “getting something”.
The sign is a symbol as the Representation period is 3rdness. It is thus general and not existent. It is a symbolic proposition, like this sentence: “Today is a sunny day”. As the Communication period is 2ndness it conveys information and produces a change in the interpreter. It conveys symbolic information.
Thank you for reading! We’ll continue with the 15 Signs in the next post.
Sincerely,
Markus