In semiotic systems, instances are more than just actualisations; they are evaluated against internal norms. This introduces a new dimension of individuation: error becomes possible, not as biological failure, but as divergence from the system’s internal constraints.
Meaning systems are thus reflexively individuated: they produce instances, construe their own potential, and differentiate between valid and invalid actualisations.
Error as a Structural Phenomenon
In biological systems, maladaptation is simply non-viability. No internal “norm of correctness” exists; survival is the only metric.
Semiotic systems, by contrast, embed normativity within structured potential:
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A statement, argument, or symbolic act can fail relative to internal constraints, not merely external outcomes.
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Error is not arbitrary; it is defined by the system’s own relational logic.
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This allows the system to recognise, correct, or adapt based on its own evaluation.
In other words, error is a property of the system, not of the world outside it.
Internal Differentiation and Reflexive Individuation
Semiotic individuation operates at two intertwined levels:
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Instance-level individuation: Each actualisation is a cut through potential, realised in context.
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System-level individuation: The system construes and evaluates its own potential, establishing internal norms and constraints.
The system is now capable of self-referential organisation: it can “see” potential trajectories, discriminate among them, and influence the course of future actualisations.
Illustrative Examples
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Law: A legal argument may succeed or fail according to codified norms, independent of external consequences.
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Science: A hypothesis may be internally inconsistent even if it predicts observable outcomes; peer review enforces internal coherence.
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Literature: A narrative may violate aesthetic or structural expectations, creating interpretive tension or “error” within the literary system.
Each case shows that semiotic systems are inherently normative: instances can conform, diverge, or fail relative to internal constraints.
Implications for Evolutionary Dynamics
The reflexive individuation of meaning systems introduces new modes of historical transformation:
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Internal correction: Systems can modify potential based on failure relative to norms.
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Deliberate reformulation: Semiotic systems can anticipate future instances and restructure potential proactively.
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Cross-stratal influence: Symbolic action reshapes social, ecological, and even biological conditions, creating feedback loops.
Error is no longer merely a signal of non-viability; it becomes a driver of innovation, adaptation, and historically mediated change.
Transition to Post 3
In the next post, we will explore cross-stratal feedback and reflexive evolution, showing how semiotic systems can reorganise environments, influence biological individuation, and generate historically volatile dynamics.
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