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A semiotic model of mind.

D D Olds1

  • 1Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, USA. Ddo1@columbia.edu

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association
|August 5, 2000
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces a theory of signs to model the mind, bridging inanimate matter and the thinking brain. It proposes that semiotic information transmission in living systems offers a dualistic-materialist perspective on the mind-body problem.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • The mind-body problem remains a significant challenge in understanding consciousness.
  • Existing models struggle to bridge the gap between physical matter and mental phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a theory of signs for a unified model of mind.
  • To develop a conceptual scheme for understanding the mind-body problem.
  • To integrate principles of information theory and semiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Invoking principles from information theory and semiotics.
  • Developing a conceptual scheme for semiotic transmission of information.
  • Proposing a dualistic-materialist model of mind.

Main Results:

  • A model of mind is proposed with a smooth transition from inanimate matter to the thinking brain.
  • Semiotic transmission of information is identified as a key differentiator in living systems.
  • A dualistic-materialist position is established, explaining the emergence of distinct processes at the origin of life.

Conclusions:

  • The model integrates semiotic systems across multiple levels (molecular, neural, linguistic, mental).
  • It offers a framework for understanding psychological and psychoanalytic concepts (e.g., free association, transference) in biological and semiotic terms.
  • The model interdigitates with existing linguistic and biological studies in psychoanalysis.

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