Bildung and Humanity: Semiotico-theoretical considerations Bildung seminar, Oulu Eetu Pikkarainen

Semiotics Study of meaningful sign structures = How meaning effects are created Sign structures can be produced intentionally for to create certain meaning effects: messages in communication; or they can be side products of other action or just any parts of environment.

Meanings Meaning effect = influence to subject’s action 1.Objective “meanings” (causal effect) 2.Subjective meanings: how subject itself affects its own action because of the object/event 3.Intersubjective meanings: a shared or common way to experience meaning effects

Action Interaction between subject and its environment Contains subject’s deeds = events caused by subject (on some object) Requires that subject has competencies (cf. intentionality etc.) Semiotic competence = ability to experience meanings (-> direct ones action in environment)

Competence An unordinary (not empirical) property which we must presuppose to a subject when we perceive (and presume) it doing a deed (in action) (cf. disposition)

Action circle(s) Plan, intention Deed PerceptionEvaluation Internal processes: competences Internal action External action External processes: Environment, objects

Bildung Bildung = becoming a human being, or part of humanity Extending from bio- and zoosemiotic level to anthroposemiotic level What is humanity? How does this becoming happen?

Learning Learning = changing of competences (= internal process) How competences can change? –spontaneously (random) –by time (biology) = mature, develop –in action = learning Learning = changing of subjects competences as a (side) effect of its own action (including its internal action)

Humanity 1 Human being = social, rational and free The internal action -> self- consciousness; independence from external. Special human freedom and rationality is based on intersubjective meanings.

Humanity 2 Bildung : not only changing just competencies of some individual subjects, but changing the whole human community. (Intersubjective meanings!) Humanity itself is “sich bildende(?)”, self transcending

Inconclusion Bildung = intransitive process (not action)