The Behavioral (Bio)Semiotics of Charles Morris

Abstract

In the article, there are presented the most important segments and development of Charles Morris’ semiotics. There are also given basic ideas of C. S. Peirce’s semiotics, his triadic sign relations, and Morris’ critical discussion of his thought. Morris was, to a considerable extent, under the influence of unified science movement and therefore oriented more positivistic. Hence he excludes mental concepts from the field of semiosis because they are not empirically objectively verifiable. Morris develops a five-part structure of semiosis and reformulates the traditional semiotical corpus of concepts into biological, which enables him to give a scientifically objective description of goalseeking behavior, which presents a crucial concept in the process of semiosis. There is also explained a method of studying semiotic terminology based on the integration of the following dimensions: syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, from which Morris carries out a comprehensive description of the language and its structure of the operation. More precisely, there is explained Morris' understanding of signals and symbols, which are presented as a significant element in the distinction between animal and human communication.