The paper discusses how the semiotic relationships involved in the process of creating a documentary, interconnect and affect the documentary's truth claims from the perspective of Peirce's semiotic theory. To do this, I created an autobiographical film called 'Annabelle Blue' and then analyzed the experience. The making of 'Annabelle Blue' involved a number of representations, each of which involved the interplay of iconic, indexical and symbolic elements and each of which had a substantial influence on how the process continued. It is my contention that documentary's truth claims must be evaluated in light of the assumption that documentary representation is a dynamic, creative process involving the jostling for position between semiotic aspects at every level.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Scientific realism and antirealism are two main views in the philosophy of science regarding the status of unobservable entities in science and whether we have good epistemic reasons to believe that our current successful scientific theories are (approximately) true. Briefly, the former claims that our scientific theories are (approximately) true and unobservable entities these scientific theories postulate exist. On the other hand, the latter claims that we do not have good epistemic reasons to believe that our scientific theories are (approximately) true and that unobservable entities our scientific theories postulate exist. The scientific realism has two primary tenets, one axiological (i.e., science should seek truth) and the other epistemological (namely, our current successful theories are (approximately) true). In this thesis, the issue has been examined from standpoint of the account of Peirce’s philosophy of science, more accurately based on his understanding of reality, truth and basic idealism. In the first chapter, I outline the main points of the debate from the perspectives of both sides. In the second chapter, I give reasons why the scientific realists’ argument is not convincing. In the third chapter, I attempt to draw an accurate picture of the account of Peirce’s views on the nature of scientific theories. In the last chapter, I make a case for scientific realism from the Peircean account of philosophy of science. I have claimed why the current debate cannot be settled without accepting a kind of Peirce's basic idealism and his understanding of reality. I think both scientific realists and antirealists accept a kind of naïve realism. This is the main reason why it is not possible to settle the debate from their standpoints. In order to overcome this issue, I attempt to develop a more sophisticated realism based on Peirce’s understanding of reality, truth and basic idealism.

Recent research on Japanese mimetics examines which part of speech the mimetic occurs as. An individual mimetic can appear as a noun, an adjective, an adverb, or a verb (Tsujimura & Deguchi 2007, 340). It is assumed by many scholars that mimetic words essentially function as adverbs (Inose 2007, 98). Few data-based studies exist that quantify the relative frequency of mimetic words in different word categories. Akita (2009) and Caldwell (2009a) have performed small scale or preliminary studies of this aspect of Japanese mimetics. The use of mimetics in other grammatical function categories has been attributed to the polysemous nature of Japanese mimetics (Key 1997). The common explanation is that the flexibility of mimetics is probably due to their iconicity (Sugiyama 2005, 307; Akita 2009; among others). Yet the definition of "iconicity" is often incomplete or cursory in nature. Newmeyer, Nuckolls, Kohn, and Key all accept or suggest the philosophies of C.S. Peirce as a possible explanation or source for understanding the iconicity of mimetic words. The purpose of this thesis is twofold: first, examine the prominent semantic theories regarding Japanese mimetics and show how the philosophies of Peirce can add clarity; second, examine overall occurrence of 1700+ mimetics per parts of speech using the data from the Kotonoha (http://www.kotonoha.gr.jp) and JpWaC (http://corpus.leeds.ac.uk/) Corpora. Peirce identified three distinct icon types: icons of abstract quality (1-1-1), icons of physical instantiation (1-1-2), and icons of abstract relation (1-1-3). These three types correspond to three distinct types of mimetic word: phonomimes (abstract sound qualities), typically predicate modifiers, phenomimes (physical actions), more often nouns or noun modifiers, and psychomimes, (relational), more often verbs or parts of verbs. Corpus data validates the observation that mimetics are usually functioning as predicate modifiers, but also supports Akita's hypothesis that psychomimes are incorporated into verbs more readily than other mimetics, which in turn is explained by the Peircean analysis.

Visual information design is a vital part of modern communication. Currently discussion is occurring in most disciplines to determine more effective ways to incorporate visual information design into all their communication, including website and document design. These discussions typically focus on elements of traditional graphic design that tell the student what is "good" graphic design; however, traditional graphic design depends on trial and error, luck, and best practices, with only rare attempts to construct general principles. Selection of visual elements is usually based on designer preference rather than any consistent conceptual framework or empirical support for design decisions. Another approach to visual information design was introduced by Alan Manning and Nicole Amare, based on the work of C. S. Peirce, who created a number of three-part typologies aimed particularly at modes of communication in relation to purpose. Manning and Amare's approach to visual information design maps specific visual elements to consistent definitions based on both formal characteristics and useful functions, as predicted by analysis in terms of primary Peircean categories. These definitions provide a consistent framework for selecting the appropriate visual elements that have the desired communicative effects. Manning and Amare's work was written for an academic audience. The primary purpose of my Master's project is to adapt their information-design concepts for a more general audience, particularly students. An abbreviated and simplified version was created online and was pilot-tested in two undergraduate Linguistics classes for students who are pursuing an editing minor.

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A distinctive feature that separates pragmatism from traditional epistemological positions is its turns to a community of inquirers. The community, as understood by pragmatists, is not merely a collection of individuals, though this is certainly part of the story. Rather, 'community' refers to a much more refined philosophical notion. The community is a framework of rules and standards for proper inference, judgments, and conduct that are determined by inquirers who share membership in a group. In turning to the community, pragmatists reject the methodological individualism of epistemological models produced under the influence of Descartes, and maintain that knowledge can only be secured in an intersubjective context within which substantive discussion and criticism are promoted and conducted. Pragmatists such as Charles S. Peirce, John Dewey, and Wilfrid Sellars and contemporary descendents of pragmatism like Wilfrid Sellars embraced the notion of community and developed the crucial role it plays in evaluating knowledge claims. The aim of this thesis is two-fold. I examine critically the role the community plays in pragmatic epistemology by looking closely at the philosophies of Charles S. Peirce and Wilfrid Sellars. Additionally, I examine whether the turn to community enables pragmatists to respond to philosophical problems that have been hitherto unanswerable by models of knowledge that restrict their focus to the individual. Specifically, I look closely at the problem of solipsism and examine whether pragmatists have the resources for responding to this problem successfully. It is my hope that by undertaking this project we will obtain a clearer picture of pragmatic epistemology and some of the strengths in following pragmatists in making the turn to community. / Master of Arts

One usually makes assertions by means of uttering indicative sentences like It is raining. However, not every utterance of an indicative sentence is an assertion. For example, in uttering I will be back tomorrow, one might be making a promise. What is to make an assertion? C.S. Peirce held the view that to assert a proposition is to make oneself responsible for its truth (CP 5.543). In this thesis, I interpret Peirces view of assertion and I evaluate Peirces reasons for holding it. I begin by reconstructing and assessing Peirces case for such view as it appears in (EP 2.140, 1903), (EP 2.312-313, 1904), and (CP 5.546, 1908). Then, I continue by elaborating on three aspects of Peirces view of assertion, namely, assertion as an act involving a certain kind of responsibility, the proposition as what is asserted, and responsibility for truth as a responsibility to give reasons. With respect to these three aspects, I argue for the following claims: (1) Peirce construed the responsibility involved in asserting as a moral responsibility; (2) Peirce held that propositions are types; and (3) Peirce was committed to a dialogical interpretation of responsibility to give reasons. Finally, I end by presenting two objections to Peirces view of assertion and its corresponding replies. I conclude that Peirces account of assertion is a valuable contribution to the philosophical debate on assertion. / Costumamos fazer asserções quando proferimos sentenças indicativas como \"Está chovendo\". Mas, não toda proferição de uma sentença indicativa é uma asserção. Por exemplo, quando dissemos vou voltar amanhã, poderíamos estar fazendo uma promessa. O que é fazer uma asserção? C.S. Peirce argumentou que \"asseverar uma proposição é fazer-se responsável pela sua verdade\" (CP 5.543). O propósito do presente texto é interpretar a visão de Peirce sobre a asserção assim como examinar as razões que a suportam. Para cumprir esse propósito, primeiro reconstruo e examino o argumento que, em defesa da sua visão, Peirce propôs em (EP 2.140, 1903), (EP 2.312-313, 1904), e (CP 5.546, 1908). A continuação aponto para três aspetos constitutivos dessa visão, a saber, a asserção como um ato que envolve certa responsabilidade, a proposição como o que é asseverado, e a responsabilidade pela verdade como a responsabilidade de dar razões. Tendo em consideração esses três aspetos, passo a defender as seguintes teses: (1) Peirce concebeu a responsabilidade envolvida na asserção como uma responsabilidade moral. (2) Peirce pensou que as proposições são types. (3) Peirce interpretou responsabilidade de dar razões de modo dialógico. Para finalizar, apresento duas objeções à visão de Peirce sobre a asserção e as réplicas respetivas. Concluo que a visão de Peirce sobre a asserção é uma contribuição valiosa ao debate filosófico sobre a asserção.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:27:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Luiz Zanette.pdf: 1939651 bytes, checksum: 47d76a874d06a90a89456e1352a58ffe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-22 / Habermas, with the publication of essays Truth and Justification, revises his formal pragmatics related to philosophical questions of truth, justification, correctness and moral legitimacy. He adopts the fallibilism for his concept of truth in accordance with the Peirce's philosophy and indicates, for issues that require moral correctness, an epistemic realism without representation that arranges itself with a moral constructivism that is not, in turn, a mere contextualism when he claims a pretension of uncondicionality for moral legitimacy under the assumption of an independent world and more or less the same for everyone. To these ends, Habermas maintains, in his formal pragmatics, an "almost" ideal condition to speech, which keeps the tension between empiric and ideal. In addition, in adjusting his ethics, Habermas refutes the Peircean concept of final opinion of inquirers to ensure the fallible propositions taken as true, because he considers this request a priori, directive and transcendental, not applicable to the consensus of those involved in moral phenomena. It has been observed, however, that the solution of integrating all these philosophical questions given by Habermas, specially for the tension of ideality within his pragmatic bias embodies substantial elements from Peirce's philosophy, that allows to assert that in updating his moral philosophy, there is an extension and elaboration of what existed in suggestions and roots in classical pragmatism, which Peirce did not accomplish / Habermas, com a publicação dos ensaios de Verdade e Justificação, reelabora a sua pragmática formal em relação às questões filosóficas de verdade, justificação, correção e legitimidade moral. Adota o falibilismo para o conceito de verdade em conformidade com a filosofia de Peirce e indica, para as questões requerentes de correção moral, um realismo epistêmico sem representação que se concilie com um construtivismo moral que não seja, por sua vez, mero contextualismo quando reivindica pretensão de incondicionalidade para a legitimação moral na suposição de um mundo independente e mais ou menos igual para todos. Para esses fins, Habermas conserva, na pragmática formal, uma condição "quase" ideal de fala, o que mantém a tensão entre ideal e empírico. Em complemento, no ajuste de sua ética, Habermas refuta o conceito peirciano da opinião final dos investigadores para assegurar as falíveis proposições tidas como verdadeiras, pois considera essa requisição a priori, diretiva e transcendental, não aplicável ao consenso dos envolvidos nos fenômenos morais. Observa-se, no entanto, que a solução de integração de todas essas questões filosóficas dadas por Habermas, principalmente para a tensão da idealidade dentro de seu viés pragmático, incorpora substanciais elementos da filosofia de Peirce e permite afirmar que, na atualização de sua filosofia moral, há uma extensão e elaboração do que havia de sugestões e raízes no pragmatismo clássico, o que Peirce não realizou

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:27:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Monica Aiub da Costa.pdf: 1133634 bytes, checksum: 2b3bbbb81de90d9935f6cff2e1982e44 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-16 / This work is dedicated to review the concept of semiosis in clinic, starting from the articulation of the concepts of plasticity, mental causation and semiosis in Charles Sanders Peirce's philosophy, and in neuroscience. Its development perceived the means of semiosis and its implications in therapy, especially in the mental causation issues, considering that physical states and mental states interact from semiotic processes, generating plasticity, both in cellular and cognitive levels. Were addressed, specially, the concepts of plasticity, mental causation and semiosis, articulated from Peirce's phenomenology, metaphysics and cosmology. The dialogue stablished between Peirce and neuroscience provided the magnification of the semiosis concept in clinical listening and its consequent implications in making diagnoses, since, starting from Peirce's contributions, semiosis can't be understood in a typological way, due to the fact of being an open system, an auto generated and creative network of signs, covering aspects from cells to incorporated technology, and constituting in a plastic way, continuous, in multiple interactions with innovations promoted by chance / Este trabalho dedica-se a uma revisão do conceito de semiose em clinica a partir da articulação dos conceitos de plasticidade, causação mental e semiose na filosofia de Charles Sanders Peirce e em neurociência. Seu desenvolvimento compreendeu as formas de semiose e suas implicações terapêuticas, em especial nas questões da causação mental, considerando que estados físicos e mentais interagem a partir dos processos semi6ticos, gerando plasticidade tanto em níveis celulares quanto cognitivos. Foram abordados, especialmente, os conceitos de plasticidade, causação mental e semiose, articulados a partir da fenomenologia, da metafisica e da cosmologia de Peirce. O dialogo estabelecido entre Peirce e a Neurociência propiciou a ampliação do conceito de semiose na escuta clinica e suas consequentes implicações na elaboração dos diagn6sticos, uma vez que, a partir das contribuições de Peirce, a semiose não pode ser compreendida de maneira tipol6gica devido ao fato de ser um sistema aberto, uma rede de signos autogerava e criativa, abarcando aspectos das células a tecnologia incorporada e constituindo-se de maneira plástica, contínua, em múltiplas interações com as novidades promovidas pelo acaso

Dans cette thèse sera principalement présenté et examiné l’apport du courant pragmatiste à la philosophie des sciences cognitives. Ainsi, lors du processus de recherche, les questions spécifiques de cette thèse ont été fixées afin d’évaluer une tendance au pragmatisme dans les sciences cognitives, connue sous le nom de « pragmatisme cognitif ».Il sera donc principalement examiné le pragmatisme cognitif, qui tend à croître dans le domaine des sciences cognitives et qui mérite un examen approfondi, non seulement à cause de son développement, mais aussi parce qu’il est source de débat. On constatera alors que le pragmatisme cognitif indique en définitive une nouvelle façon de caractériser la nature mentale. Ainsi, « l’esprit cognitif » serait remplacé par « l’esprit incarné », d’autant que ce thème spécifique concerne une évolution de la théorie représentationnelle de l’esprit « TRE » vers la théorie de l’esprit incarné « TEI ». Lors de ce processus d’expansion, l’aspect philosophique est essentiel. Il est toutefois important ici de préciser que cette recherche ne concerne pas directement et uniquement les sciences cognitives, mais plus la philosophie des sciences cognitives.Le pragmatisme est alors considéré comme une méthode de pensée visant à critiquer et à améliorer les expériences scientifiques. Bien que le pragmatisme soit devenu très populaire dans le domaine des sciences cognitives, cette évidence nécessite toutefois encore de nombreuses vérifications et démonstrations. On a pu constater qu’il existe un concept très important pour tous les pragmatistes en sciences cognitives, « l’action ». Par conséquent, le pragmatisme cognitif est particulièrement important pour expliquer la transition d’une cognition de « la représentation » à « l’action ». Par ailleurs, ce tournant est connecté à un autre plus grand champ d’application du « 4E cognition», qui est lié avec la phénoménologie et l’existentialisme. Il semble probable que ce soit une tendance qui ne cesse de croître parmi les pragmatistes et qu’elle puisse en effet générer un tournant important dans les sciences cognitives grâce à une façon plus adaptée et développée. Cependant, le fait est que les idées de Peirce, qui est lui-même le fondateur de l’idée de pragmatisme, sont négligées par les défenseurs du « pragmatisme cognitif » et aussi par ceux du « cognitivisme anti-pragmatisme». Il pourrait y avoir une troisième possibilité qui sera ici mise en évidence lors d’une rétrospection de la philosophie de Peirce pour les sciences cognitives, ayant rencontré un tournant significatif.Tandis que certains philosophes, comme Jean-Michel Roy en 2014, suggèrent une distinction entre un « tournant pragmatiste » et un « tournant pragmatique », cette thèse tentera une troisième hypothèse, qui sera proposée, à savoir un « tournant pragmaticiste» prenant racine dans la théorie de Peirce. Un tournant significatif doit offrir une meilleure compréhension de la cognition. Et ce tournant pourra avoir ainsi plusieurs implications pour les sciences cognitives. Le pragmatiste de Peirce peut jouer ce rôle et permettre de mieux concevoir la nature de l’esprit actif et de l’esprit cognitif. Si le concept de « l’action » est l’idée centrale du pragmatisme en général, alors le concept de « l’habitude » est l’idée la plus importante chez Peirce. De même, si la représentation et l’action sont des concepts opposés sur la définition de la cognition, la notion d’habitude a la possibilité de dissoudre les tensions entre ces deux points de vue opposés. Pour Peirce, l’habitude joue un double rôle de croyance [la croyance-habitude] et d’action [l’habitude de l’action].Pour finir, on peut concevoir que la position de cette thèse repose sur une perceptive du « pragmatisme-néo-classique ». Cette position est à différencier de celle du pragmatisme cognitif d’un côté, et celle du néo-pragmatisme d’un autre côté. / In this dissertation, I examine a growing trend in contemporary cognitive science known as cognitive pragmatism. This subject merits examination for a number of reasons, but primarily it is needed because the trend of cognitive pragmatism is so entrenched in cognitive science, while at the same time remaining a lightning rod of controversy. The lack of a consensus regarding the nature of American pragmatismthe purported progenitor of cognitive pragmatism has in particular attracted skepticism of pragmatism’s methodology. Therefore, it is necessary to ask why American pragmatism became involved in the discipline of cognitive science and how it subsequently came to be interpreted in such different ways. Given that pragmatism is a relatively well established school, it is worth addressing its significance for the burgeoning field of cognitive science. In their pragmatist inspired views of cognition, both Mark Johnson and Jerry Fodor overlook the figure whom I consider to be pragmatism’s most important: Charles Sanders Peirce. This is likely due to the fact that Peirce’s ideas differ from pragmatism as it is popularly conceived, due in no small part to the influence of William James and John Dewey. Further, it is difficult for either Johnson’s embodied theory of mind (ETM) or Fodor’s representational theory of mind (RTM) to employ Peirceian pragmatism in their respective definitions of cognition; they perhaps have erred by filing to take into account Peirce’s thought. Therefore, I shall tackle this challenge by clarifying the ‘Johnson Fodor debate’ using the tools of Peirceian pragmatism, or ‘pragmaticism.’ Taking into consideration the current trends of both the ‘pragmatist turn’ and ‘pragmatic turn,’ I propose a third way: namely, a ‘pragmaticist turn’ firmly rooted in Peirce’s philosophy. I will thus supplement the concept of ‘action’ with that of ‘habit’ in order to reinterpret the relation between the embodied and cognitive minds.