An information-based semiotic analysis of theories concerning theories

Bibliographic Data

ID4472858
AuthorsVern S Poythre, Vern S Poythress (corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume2013
Issue193
Publication date2013-01-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSemiotica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0037-1998 • E-ISSN: 1613-3692
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/sem-2013-0005
OpenAlexW1986016282
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited6

A model of semiotic theory informed by information theory can be adapted to provide a simple theory concerning theories, and to model changes in theories over time. The model appropriates from tagmemic theory the fundamental features of contrast, variation, and distribution that characterize emic units. It then applies these features to second-order theories about theories. The specification of behavior of emic units at this second-order level puts constraints on the expected form of first-order theories and changes in time to first-order theories. A key feature in the constraint on first-order theories is the feature of symmetry. Second-order theory leads to an expectation that shifts in perspective in first-order theories can take three forms: (1) contrastive shifts, due to adding or subtracting emic units; (2) variational shifts, due to changes in probability estimates for co-occurrence; and (3) distributional shifts, due to global change in the system of units. The model for second-order theory is applied specifically to phonology, music, and Newton's laws of motion (treated as a semiotic system)

Cognitive science · Epistemology · Linguistics · Semiotics · Sociology · Algorithms and Data Compression · Cellular Automata and Applications · Music and Audio Processing · Philosophy · Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub