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Kant and the Platypus: Essays on Language and Cognition (1997)

by Umberto Eco

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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1,452412,723 (3.62)13
How do we know a cat is a cat? And why do we call it a cat? How much of our perception of things is based on cognitive ability, and how much on linguistic resources? Here, in six remarkable essays, Umberto Eco explores in depth questions of reality, perception, and experience. Basing his ideas on common sense, Eco shares a vast wealth of literary and historical knowledge, touching on issues that affect us every day. At once philosophical and amusing, Kant and the Platypus is a tour of the world of our senses, told by a master of knowing what is real and what is not.… (more)
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» See also 13 mentions

English (2)  Romanian (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (4)
Showing 2 of 2
How do we know that a cat is a cat? Why do we agree on calling the beast a cat? Interesting questions, but an even more intriguing question lies at the heart of all modern philosophy – how much of our perception of things depends on our cognitive ability and how much on linguistic resources? At this point semiotics becomes inextricably linked to epistemology, or cognition. In these essays, Umberto Eco explores in depth such subjects as perception, the relationship between language and experience, and iconism that he only touched on in A Theory of Semiotics. Forgoing a formal, systematic treatment, Eco engages in a series of explorations based on common sense, from which flow an abundance of illustrative fables, often with animals as protagonists. Among the characters, a position of prominence is reserved for the platypus, which appears to have been created specifically to “put the cat among the pigeons” as far as many theories of knowledge are concerned. In Kant and the Platypus, Eco shares with us a wealth of ideas at once philosophical and amusing.
2 vote spiwritersguild | Nov 13, 2006 |
Semiotics
  Budzul | Jun 1, 2008 |
Showing 2 of 2
Umberto Eco ist der lebende Beweis dafür, dass sich Semiotik und Popularität nicht gegenseitig ausschließen müssen. Seit "La struttura assente" von 1968 ist Eco mit lose verknüpften Theoriesträngen international erfolgreich, das sich - um in der Sprache des Ahnvaters der Semiotik, John Locke, zu sprechen - der "doctrine of signs" verschrieben hat. Die erkennende und verstehende Haltung gegenüber der Welt ist auch Thema von Ecos voluminösem Kompendium "Kant und das Schnabeltier". Hinter dem surrealen Titel verbirgt sich eine unterhaltsam formulierte Untersuchung zu den kognitiven Grundlagen der Zeichenbildung. Aber auch der kommunikative Aspekt der Semiose, bei dem sich die betroffenen Bewusstseine über die Sinnfestschreibung und die damit verbundene Abduktion eines Zeichens einig werden müssen, wird von Eco anhand verschiedener Beispiele beleuchtet. Neben dem Schnabeltier, welches als taxonomisches Sperrgut erst in einem achtzig Jahre dauernden Verhandlungsprozess in die Zoologie Eingang gefunden hat, bezieht sich Eco auch auf die ersten Versuche der Azteken, ein ihnen unbekanntes Wesen wie das Pferd zu kommunizieren und zu bezeichnen. Dabei wandelt Eco auf den bereits im "Trattato di semiotica generale" beschrittenen Pfaden, die trichotomische Terminologie von Peirce wird erneut bemüht und ein bruchloses Kontinuum von der Wahrnehmung zur Signifikation unterstellt.
 

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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Umberto Ecoprimary authorall editionscalculated
Lozano Miralles, HelenaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McEwen, AlastairTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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How do we know a cat is a cat? And why do we call it a cat? How much of our perception of things is based on cognitive ability, and how much on linguistic resources? Here, in six remarkable essays, Umberto Eco explores in depth questions of reality, perception, and experience. Basing his ideas on common sense, Eco shares a vast wealth of literary and historical knowledge, touching on issues that affect us every day. At once philosophical and amusing, Kant and the Platypus is a tour of the world of our senses, told by a master of knowing what is real and what is not.

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