Physical objects or events {symbol, language} can cause perceptions that label, index, suggest, or reference other perceptions or concepts.
form
Nothing is intrinsically a symbol. Symbols can be diagrams, icons, physical objects, indexes, or names. Symbols can be singular terms, like proper nouns. Symbols can denote classes, like common nouns. Symbols can describe, like adjectives. Symbols can equate, like intransitive verbs.
form: goals
Symbol clusters can be goals, rewards, emotions, and memories. Emotions are symbolic reactions to symbol-cluster changes. Rewards are symbolic consequences of reaching goals.
cause
Marks or signs can stand for other objects and events by resemblance, through cause and effect, or by physical or mental connection. Symbols reference mental representations by rules, such as shape similarity, or by conventions, such as previous cultural references.
properties
Symbols indicate objects and events. Symbols are signs, not what they physically are. Symbols are never more important than objects. Symbols are not concepts or definitions. Symbols have no meaning by themselves.
relation
Symbol-object relationships are one-way. Objects do not reference symbols.
system
Symbol sets can form reference systems, such as alphabets. Symbol sets can add rules to make languages for applying symbols.
Social Sciences>Linguistics>Symbol
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Date Modified: 2022.0224