It’s time to go through all of the 15 Signs individually one by one. Let’s do this!
The 15 Signs
1: Qualisign Icon Rhema [1111]
Perception Phase
Grounding Period
Grounding = 1stness
Presentation = 1stness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
A quality is perceived as such. The sign seeks to ground itself.
All of the periods are 1stness, which makes it a sign of pure possibility. This sign is the most fundamental one. It is embodied in all other classes of signs being the source of originality and freedom in semiosis. As a grounding sign, it is always non-consciously felt and absolutely non-controlled.
It is something like the immediate and non-conscious feeling of a sound, color, smell, taste or texture. Being always unique and original in itself, regardless of it being fainted or real. It is the indeterminacy of the unknown.
2: Altersign Icon Rhema [2111]
Perception Phase
Presentation Period
Grounding = 2ndness
Presentation = 1stness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
A difference perceived in its own qualities. The signs seeks to present itself.
As the Grounding period is 2ndness, it is the presentation of some irritation, something forceful. A perceived fluctuation in spacetime, manifesting as a discernible change. It signifies an irreversible shift in reality, representing any particular state within a sequence of causally connected events.
It could be the primitive emotional state produced by some irritation to the senses. Forceful presentation of something unknown. Any perceptive stimulus in itself. Sudden change in temperature, unexpected physical contact, sudden feeling of unease, loss of sensation.
3: Sinsign Icon Rhema [2211]
Perception Phase
Representation Period
Grounding = 2ndness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
An individual sign is perceived representing the qualities of its object. The sign seeks to represent its object existentially.
As Presentation is 2ndness, it is some forceful singular existent without any reason. The sign seeks to represent its object through its qualitative being. It could be a independent signal. Unexpected forceful existent.
It carries no meaning and is something odd, whose meaning and representation remain unknown. It is akin to an out-of-place object, such as a red chair in the middle of a forest. This sign could also be an unrecognizable object or any perceived signal in itself, like a sudden loud noise or unexplained odor. Perhaps it's a strange glowing light in the night sky.
4: Sinsign Index Rhema [2221]
Perception Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 2ndness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 1stness
An individual sign is perceived as being existentially connected to an existent producing an emotional communicative effect.
As the Representation is 2ndness, it is a forceful singular existent indicating something, but the final communicative effect remains an emotional possibility. The signs seeks to forcefully communicate something existential from its object to the interpretant. It draws the attention of its interpretant to the existence of “something” with which it is connected.
It could be some sound coming from some existent source without understanding why. Like a weird sound coming from a cave. Or sudden pain in some limb. Maybe it could be the hearing of mysterious footsteps in abandoned building or rustling in the bushes.
The Communication period is 1stness so it is also the emotional or qualitative effect produced by this unexpected sound. A state of shock, fear or unease for instance.
5: Sinsign Index Dicisign [2222]
Perception Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 2ndness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 2ndness
An individual sign is perceived as being existentially connected to an existent producing an energetic communicative effect. It is a singular indicative proposition.
As all of the periods are 2ndness, this is the pure physical shock we wish to avoid at all cost. It is a hit to the face, impact, obstacle, stumbling block caused by some surprising existent thing. It’s the state of sheer panic caused by the unexpected sound from the cave or the running away from the abandoned building after hearing the footsteps.
It is the interpreter understanding the assertion "There is here and now an unexpected and strident sound" and reacting impulsively to it.
6: Holosign Icon Rhema [3111]
Experience Phase
Presentation Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 1stness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
A form or pattern is experienced in its own qualities. The sign seeks to present a pattern or a form.
It is the pattern or form arising from the perceptive synthesis as an enduring "something", capable of being investigated. It is the irritation [2111] that is subsumed to homogeneity [3111] (as 2ndness “evolves” to 3rdness).
Therefore, it is an idea, form or pattern present to the mind as an unified whole. The bringing of multiplicity into coherence. Instead of independent sounds we are presented with a melody. Instead of individual points of light, we are presented with a hologram. Instead of being presented with separate molecules, a coherent general quality, like a familiar odor is presented. Instead of individual imprints, we are presented by tracks.
As the sign subsumes perceived irritations, it eliminates their uncertainty. Often, perceived irritations dissolve into the presented and experienced qualitative “screen”, becoming unnoticed. Something like the edges of our perceptual field, which escape our attention, dust particles in the air, dirt on windows, and ambient sounds in a city go unnoticed.
This sign could also be understood as the identity or coherence of a person. Our sentiments that affect our behaviour and make up our personality. The nature of our soul, if you will.
Maybe it could be the quantum state described by the wave function, representing all possible states and outcomes of a system. Then, the collapse of this wave function would correspond to the individual possible states described by the wave function [2111].
7: Replica Icon Rhema [3211]
Experience Phase
Representation Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
An instantiation of a law is experienced as representing the qualities of the form of its object. The signs seeks to represent the form of its object. It is the instantiation of a general law.
It is something familiar as Grounding is 3rdness and it has forceful materiality as Presentation is 2ndness. But as both the Representation and Communication periods are 1stness, the sign represents qualitatively and doesn’t communicate a clear message. It's a particular, familiar thing in itself, characterized by its own qualities. For example, the smell of exhaust in the city or the scent of the forest.
This sign could also be interpreted as an uninteresting familiar sign because the sign does not indicate its object (Representation would then be in 2ndness), but rather remains self-contained as Representation remains 1stness.
It could be the same landmarks on a daily commute, or common household items like a chair, table, or lamp. These sights are familiar and may not elicit much interest or attention. They do not represent anything but are there in their own qualities as expected unsurprising existents.
Or it may be art enjoyed in itself in its own qualities, like emotional enjoyment of music. Maybe individual vaporwave song, a genre of music and art characterized by its retro aesthetic (Representation is 1stness), and feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality (Communication is 1stness) could be considered an example of such a sign.
8: Replica Index Rhema [3221]
Experience Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 1stness
An instantiation of law is experienced as being existentially connected to the form of its object producing an emotional communicative effect. The sign seeks to communicate the form of the object to the interpretant.
It is something familiar as Grounding is 3rdness, and it has forceful materiality and is connected to its object as both Presentation and Representation are 2ndness. But it mediates no clear message as Communication remains 1stness.
It is an experience of a concrete familiar thing representing something, yet not conveying any definitive message. “Uninterpreted” familiar representation. Something familiar before we “connect the dots”. Its meaning lingers in the air, unresolved.
It could be gestures or facial expressions conveying a vague emotion without clearly communicating a specific message. Or maybe it is crop circles as the message or purpose behind crop circles remains a subject of speculation and debate.
The 1stness of the Communication period could also imply a purely emotional interpretation. It could be a familiar song connected to a particular event in life or to certain context (as Representation is 2ndness) evoking emotions (as Communication is 1stness).
9: Replica Index Dicisign [3222]
Experience Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 2ndness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 2ndness
An instantiation of a law is experienced as being existentially connected to the form of its object producing an energetic communicative effect.
As Communication is 2ndness, it is a familiar and known particular conveying information. Reading the temperature, understanding the weather vane, taking a measurement, checking the time, understanding body language.
It is an expected repetitive occurrence. Somewhat mundane and boring. It could be the end result of a familiar process like the printed paper after printing or the car starting after turning the key.
It is the train on time, brushing the teeth, the weekly trash collection. Something repeatable and anticipated. The opposite of a surprise. The final resulting change of state produced by the a habitual transmission of information through any medium. Things working as intended.
It is the final concrete effect produced by a familiar signal. Players stopping the game when hearing the whistle. The habitual final reaction of the soldiers when the captain shouts "Ground arms!".
10: Legisign Icon Rhema [3311]
Understanding Phase
Representation Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 1stness
Communication = 1stness
A habitual sign is understood representing the qualities of the form of its object. The sign seeks to represent the form of its object in a habitual way.
As the Presentation period reaches 3rdness, we move to legisigns. Legisigns are signs which have the nature of a law, rule, habit or convention. It is an universal that acts in the world.
We are thus not presented with anything particular (2ndness), but an invisible living tendency (3rdness) “behind” the particular instances. The generality guiding and governing particularity. Therefore, this sign is the probability law in itself. Something that cannot be touched or seen, but which is active and living.
As Representation is 1stness, it is a conventional representation of purely the qualitative aspects of the object. It is the probability law governing a conventionally codified signal.
In order for the instances of this probability law to be identified they need to embody certain qualitative aspects (Representation is 1stness). These can be qualities of sound (like the phonetic qualities of speech), visual qualities (the octagonal shape and red color of a stop sign), or qualities of scent (smelling napalm in the morning).
For example signs on electronic devices or software interfaces often rely on specific shapes and colours to convey meaning. Also non-verbal communication involves qualitative aspects such as gestures, facial expressions, and body language. Thus the instance [3211] is connected to the probability law [3311] by a quality (1stness in the Representation period).
But these qualities as such, do not communicate anything factual as Communication is 1stness. The habit of recognizing the sonic qualities of the church bell, in itself, does not convey any meaning, as there is no habit of connecting (Representation would be 2ndness) or habit of understanding (Communication would be 2ndness).
At this stage, we're solely examining the qualitative characteristics of the law necessary for an instance to be recognized as an example of a particular law. For instance, a stop sign isn't truly a stop sign without its red color and octagonal shape. Likewise, to be understood, one must articulate the correct phonetic sounds. Similarly, for money to qualify as legal tender, it must embody certain essential qualities and shapes.
I guess this sign could also be understood as the qualitative style of something. Vaporwave must embody certain aesthetic qualities to be recognized as vaporwave. Every music style has its own sonic and rhythmic characteristics. Different visual art forms employ varying colors and textures—think of impressionistic paintings compared to ancient Greek art depicted on pottery.
11: Legisign Index Rhema [3321]
Understanding Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 1stness
A habitual sign is understood as being existentially connected to the form of its object producing an emotional communicative effect. The sign seeks to communicate the form of the object to the interpretant in a habitual way.
As the Representation period is 2ndness, this sign is the habit of connecting things to communicate something. It's not the qualities of the sound itself, but the habit of linking the sound to something, like the habit of connecting the sound of the church bell to the church, or the habit of placing the battery sign on the phone screen.
With the establishment of an existential connection, the habit gains the potential power to constrain, akin to a red traffic light, a national border, or the habit of animals to scent mark their territories.
Nevertheless the Communication period is still 1stness. The habit has the power to embody [3311] to indicate [3321], but it is not habitually communicating a message or causing an actual energetic effect in the interpreter. The habit of pointing with the index-finger does not convey information about the object, the habit of placing traffic signs next to the road, in itself, does not convey information.
The communicated effect is emotional. The habit of smiling in response to an interaction conveys an emotion rather than a clear proposition. Similarly, the habit of playing music when an ice hockey game stops does not convey information but rather evokes emotion and maintains a high atmosphere. The same applies to the habit of playing scary music in horror films.
12: Legisign Index Dicisign [3322]
Understanding Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 2ndness
Communication = 2ndness
A habitual sign is understood as being existentially connected to the form of its object producing an energetic communicative effect.
It is a contextual habit connected to something conveying information, like the habit of shouting of “hot dogs” in a baseball game, the habit of giving orders to troops, the habit of dogs to obey.
It is any habitual decision taken from the understanding of a message. It is the power of the habit to affect an end result. The power of the warning colors to prevent the animals from being eaten, the tendency of ants to follow sweetness to its source.
It could be the habit of nodding with someone's statement indicating agreement. It may be something like etiquette governing behavior in various social contexts, such as greetings or table manners.
Perhaps it's the consistent behavior of seagulls gathering in a certain area that enables the fisher to associate them with the presence of fish. Or the power of emergency siren to produce the energetic effect of residents to take necessary precautions.
It is the habit of bird calls or songs to cause the attraction of mates, or to deter predators. It is the habit of checking social media when hearing notifications.
13: Legisign Symbol Rhema [3331]
Sharing Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 3rdness
Communication = 1stness
A symbol shared producing an emotional communicative effect.
This sign is every general term, the predicate of a proposition, words, symbolic notation, concepts.
As Representation becomes 3rdness the connection between the sign and the object becomes habitual and we have a symbol. These symbols serve as vehicles for carrying information, whether it's a single word, a written text, an entire library, or even the entirety of the Internet.
In this view, even humanity itself can be seen as a symbol. Just as words evolve in meaning through usage and experience, so too do human beings evolve as their mental habits and dispositions change. Both humans and words undergo constant evolution, incorporating new qualities, expanding their expressive potential.
Symbols embody virtual information—a potentiality that awaits realization. This potentiality is conditionally expressed, existing as a future oriented would-be until the moment of denotation, when the symbol connects with an Index and becomes manifest. When a symbol unites with an icon, the resulting information is only possible—a metaphor.
Therefore, the habits of connecting things [3321] become symbols [3331] as their connection to the object is generalized (Representation becomes 3rdness). This allows the sign of battery charge level to be used in energy drinks as a symbol for energy. Or using traffic lights as a symbol for tracking phases in some project. Or using the cross as the symbol for Christians.
14: Legisign Symbol Dicisign [3332]
Sharing Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 3rdness
Communication = 2ndness
A symbol is shared producing an energetic communicative effect. It is an universal categorical proposition conveying symbolic information.
This sign is any communicated and understood proposition of language. It could be slogans, written messages or understanding the news. It is every informational sign conveying factual or descriptive information, like the sign "Parking Lot Full” or signs in museums, zoos, or historical sites.
This sign [3332] is the symbolic expression of the habitual decision taken from the understanding of a message [3322]. It is the fisherman explaining the novice how the presence of seagulls is associated with the presence of fish. It is the emergency broadcast providing instructions that accompanies the emergency siren.
15: Legisign Symbol Argument [3333]
Sharing Phase
Communication Period
Grounding = 3rdness
Presentation = 3rdness
Representation = 3rdness
Communication = 3rdness
A symbol shared producing a logical communicative effect.
All the periods embody 3rdness, representing the entelechy — the perfect sign. It is the principle of teleological self-realization, conscious and self-controlled self-organization, driven by final causation. Argument serves as the super-order or super-habit, guiding all development towards the summum bonum.
Consider this simple syllogistic classic argument like:
All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal
Notice how the argument guides us through the propositions to the conclusion. It holds and governs the propositions holding them together. The argument doesn’t only indicate the information, but leads us to the conclusion.
The argument is thus the organising or leading principle, the telos itself. It could be the aesthetic principle or vision of an artist, that leads and structures his whole production.
It could be ideology, religion, culture or world view we embody. A symbolic system of thought that governs our whole life. A way of life bringing it all together.
Thank you for reading! I want to emphasize that this post is preliminary and speculative and subject to change in the future. So don’t take these descriptions as being the final ones. Signs are inherently vague and elusive, suggesting that we shouldn't attempt to pinpoint them too meticulously.
I'm happy to answer your questions and comments. And please share your ideas!
Sincerely,
Markus