Repository | Book | Chapter
(2009) Essential readings in biosemiotics, Dordrecht, Springer.
I define a symbol in terms of its structure and function. First, a symbol can only exist in the context of a living organism or its artifacts. Life originated with symbolic memory, and symbols originated with life. I find it gratuitous to use the concept of symbol, even metaphorically, in physical systems where no function exists. Symbols do not exist in isolation but are part of a semiotic or linguistic system. H. H. Pattee (1969: 292)
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-9650-1_17
Full citation:
Favareau, D. (2009). The physics and metaphysics of biosemiotics, in Essential readings in biosemiotics, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 519-540.
This document is unfortunately not available for download at the moment.