The 40th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America

Pittsburgh, PA: October 14, 2015

Confidence in the Reasoning

Process Through Interpretants of
Symbolic Signs
Priscila Borges

primborges@gmail.com
University of Brasilia - UnB

Peirces semiotics is a formal doctrine of signs. As

such, semiotics would be concerned, in part, to
determine the conditions for counting anything
as true. (LISZKA, 1996, p.2)
Here, truth is understood in a pragmatic way as
that which sufficient inquiry would inevitably
lead (Peirce, c. 1907, MS [R] 322 [Pragmatism]).
If attaining truth depends on an inquiry process,
it demands ways to guarantee the accuracy of
this process.

speculative grammar

concerns the classification of signs

critic

gives the conditions which determine the reasoning to be secure (Peirce,

c.1902, CP 2.1)

methodeutic

is the study of the necessary conditions of the transmission of meaning by

signs from mind to mind (Peirce, c. 1897, CP 1.444).
Conditions for reasoning and meaning relate to a process that occur in the
interpretants and they involve a symbolic sign.

symbol

represents its object by virtue of a character which is conferred upon it by an

operation of the mind. (Peirce, c. 1899-1900, MS [R] 142:4-6)

A reasoning process is an operation of the mind, and it is in

the set of symbols that we can observe better this process.
Confidence in the reasoning process may be found in the
interpretants of symbolic signs.
Peirce developed the theory of interpretants late in his
lifetime. And only the system of 66 sign classes have more
than one trichotomy that deals with interpretants, in which
the conditions for the inquiry process may show up.

D
Sy ice
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Signtree
66 sign classes

ign

Symbol

tL
Indexical
Legisign

n
ice

is
eg

ent
m
u
Arg

Dicent Sinsign
Indexical Sinsign

Symbol
Indexical

Iconic Legisign

Iconic Legisign
Sinsign
Sinsign

S
DO

FI

S-FI FI
S-DI DI

Symbol (S-DO)

II S-DO
S

DO

Qualisign

Qualisign

IO

Sinsign

Iconic Sinsign

D
Sy ice
m nt
bo
l

s
t
i
,
s
s
s
n
e
e
g
c
b l si
o
y
r
a
p
a
r
l
m
l
e
a
e gen
r
c
e
n
v
o fide by
con veyed
con

ign

Symbol

tL
Indexical
Legisign

n
ice

is
eg

ent
m
u
Arg

pa

in rticu
co a de lar
nt te sig
ex rm n
t
ine s,
d
Dicent Sinsign
Indexical Sinsign

Symbol
Indexical

Iconic Legisign

Iconic Legisign
Sinsign
Sinsign

S
DO

FI

S-FI FI
S-DI DI

II S-DO
S

DO

Qualisign

Qualisign

IO

Sinsign

Iconic Sinsign

When we examine a
particular sign, we can try
to predict the ideas it will
be able to produce in a
particular circumstance.
DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Symbolic interpretants show a

method to measure the value of
the idea that the sign is able to
produce.

A symbol is a general
sign, we cannot predict
the possible ideas the
instances of this type
of sign will be able to
produce, since the
particular characters
and the context of the
sign also determine its
interpretants.

Only the symbolic classes

from the 66 classes
system show all modes
of interpretants in action,
because the symbol
is the only sign that
depends on acquiring
a habit, which means
having interpretant
trichotomies of thirdness.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Hypothetic

The potential to raise a hypothesis. It is only

instinct that assures that these hypotheses
are true, and instinct as a mode of assurance
is related to the first grade of clearness.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI

Categorical (II)

II

Symbol
Legisign

Hypothetical (II)

Being of secondness,
they are linked to
experience and it seems
that the six classes that
follow the hypothetical
interpretant indicate
the necessity to nourish
the process with the
experiences that lack in a
hypothesis.
Through experiences,
we can pass from
a hypothesis to an
assertion, which is
assured by experience.

D
Sy ice
m nt
bo
l

Symbol

e
tL
Indexical
Legisign

n
ice

ig
gis

nt
me
u
g
Ar

Dicent Sinsign
Indexical Sinsign

Symbol
Indexical
Iconic Legisign

Iconic Legisign

Sinsign
Sinsign

S
DO

FI

S-FI FI
S-DI DI

II S-DO
S

Qualisign

Hypothetical (II)
DO

Qualisign

IO

Sinsign

Iconic Sinsign

Among iconic and

indexical classes we find
14 classes in which the
immediate interpretant
is hypothetical. In the
symbolic classes there is
only one sign which may
produce a hypothesis.
These classes seem to be
related to the first step of
reasoning, abduction.
Abduction as the first
phase of inquiry.

D
Sy ice
m nt
bo
l

Symbol

n
isig

g
Le
t
en
c
i
Indexical
D
Legisign

ent
m
u
Arg

Dicent Sinsign
Indexical Sinsign

Symbol
Indexical

Iconic Legisign

Iconic Legisign
Sinsign
Sinsign

S
DO

FI

S-FI FI
S-DI DI

II S-DO
S

DO

Qualisign

Qualisign

IO

Sinsign

Iconic Sinsign

From the multiplicity

of hypotheses to
the selection of one
particular subject of
investigation, there is the
process of picking one
out of the bundle, which
should follow some rules.
Secondness in the
interpretants of indexical
signs: it seems to be
related to the testing
of hypotheses through
experience.

If the hypothesis raised

is able to explain certain
facts and if it agrees
with experience, it
is possible to take a
step forward towards
becoming a belief,
which is represented by
reaching the immediate
interpretant of the third
mode of being.

FI
S-DI
DI

Categorical (II)

II

Symbol
Legisign

Relative (II)
Hypothetical (II)

Immediate interpretant:
what the sign is able
to produce. Since this
meaning is relative, we
can think that meaning
depends on certain
conditions.

Would this correspond

in some sense to
considering the possible
consequences of the
hypothesis, which
is characteristic of a
deductive process?
cti

du

De

FI

ve

es

oc
pr

S-DI

represent
the inductive
test based on
experience

DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

represents an
explanation of
the hypothesis

Relative (II)

If it is so, then, we can

think that every step
towards an interpretant
trichotomy of the third
mode represents a
deduction step in the
process of reasoning.

FI

represent the
inductive test

S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Usual (DI)
may express a
probable inference

represent the experience with

this diagram, mixed with previous
experiences with the actual sign,
which is closer to an inductive process.

FI

represents a process of building a

diagram of the relations that are
observed and tested in the mind.

S-DI

Usual (DI)

DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Indicative (S-DI)
It means expressing a simple statement of a fact.
This statement is the would be produced by the
deduction process based on the hypothesis.
The would be is based on the relative immediate
interpretant

Relative (II)
limits the range of
cases in which the
hypothesis can be
applied and on its
probability to occur

D
Sy ice
m nt
bo
l

Symbol

Pratic (FI)

ig
s
i
g

Le
t
n
e
c
Indexical
Di
Legisign

nt
e
um
g
r
A

Dicent Sinsign

Pragmatic (FI)

Indexical Sinsign

Gratifying (FI)

Symbol
Indexical

Iconic Legisign

Iconic Legisign

Indicative (S-DI)

Sinsign
Sinsign

S
DO

S-FI FI
S-DI DI
FI

II S-DO
S

DO

Qualisign

IO

Sinsign

Iconic Sinsign

Peirce compares the three grades

of clearness to the interpretants
of a sign
familiarity, 1st grade of clearness:
interpretation in feeling
(Peirce, 1909, EP 2:496-7)
sympathetic interpretant (DI)
suggestive interpretant (S-DI)
gratifying interpretant (FI)

FI
S-DI

Gratifying (FI)
Suggestive interpretant (S-DI)
Sympathetic interpretant (DI)

DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Second grade of clearness is

a logical analysis. Peirce also
relates logical analysis to the
dynamical interpretant.
I am more inclined to
say that it would be
related to the dynamical
interpretant of secondness
and thirdness, which are
connected to deductive
reasoning. Including the
sign-dynamical Interpretant
trichotomy.

FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Usual (DI)

Percussive (DI)

Peirce identifies the third

grade of clearness with the
final interpretant and says it
is a pragmatistic analysis.
The third mode of being
of the final interpretant is
pragmatic.
FI

In the pragmatic final

interpretant the sign is the
subject of critical reflection
and its meaning is focus
of critical attention by a
deliberate inquirer. Through
this self-controlled process,
we are able to modify our
habits.

S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Pragmatic (FI)

Legisign

The sign relation to the final

interpretant (S-FI) shows the
nature of the influence of
the sign.
In most classes, we do not
observe the formulation
of a new concept, but the
reaffirmation of a concept
already established.
Most of the rhematic
interpretants are preceded
by a gratifying or a practical
final interpretant, while
only one rhematic class is
preceded by a pragmatic
final interpretant.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Argument (S-FI)
Rheme (S-FI)

Dicent (S-FI)

Legisign

This one class that

reaches a concept
through a self-controlled
process can represent
the beget of a new or
modified concept.
DO-S-FI

All the others, be them

interpretants actions or
a mental interpretation,
are unreflective instances
of the concept, which
are very important to
the consolidation of the
concept itself.

S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

can represent the

beget of a new or
modified concept.

The layers of habituation

are represented by the
great number of sign classes
that have a gratifying final
interpretant (and are,
consequently, rhematic),
and, more specifically, in
the ones that have a usual
dynamical interpretant.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Gratifying (FI)
Usual (DI)

The dicent (S-FI) is a

sign capable of being
asserted. It can also be
an assertion, if it is a
particular sign.
The dicent tells
something about an
influence a sign had, but
not about the future
relations that signs of this
sort can produce.
It is the argument
that has a principle of
sequence and that can
predict something about
the influence or the
relations of the sign.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Dicent (S-FI)
Argument (S-FI)

The triadic relation

between sign, dynamical
object and final
interpretant refers to
the assurance of the
utterance.
DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Instinct (DO-S-FI)
Experience (DO-S-FI)
Form (DO-S-FI)

Instinct is an assurance that

results from abductions,
but not only, since instinct
is the mode of assurance of
a great number of classes
in which deduction and
induction are in course.
We can notice that the
assurance of experience
is possible only in sign
classes that have either
secondness or thirdness in
its trichotomies, including
in that all the classes that
show an inductive process
and the ones in which
deduction is in course, but
not finished.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Instinct (DO-S-FI)
Experience (DO-S-FI)

The assurance of form

is restricted to the
only class of sign that
has thirdness in all its
trichotomies and it is an
assurance reached by a
process that includes all
types of reasoning.

DO-S-FI
S-FI
FI
S-DI
DI
II

Symbol
Legisign

Form (DO-S-FI)