The Semiotics of Paradox (original) (raw)

To find signs of paradox, we need do little more than the odd thought experiment: briefly consider the (irreconcilable) implications of an utterance like “This statement is false” for instance. But signs of paradox range far beyond the dull tyranny of perverse propositions. We also find them in contexts less-overtly linguistic: in reflecting on the feeling and nature of the flow of time, for instance; or when we identify tacit social codes that co-exist in conflict with explicit rules; or when grappling with a disturbing conclusion—Gödel’s incompleteness theorem, say—or when we experience a dastardly double-bind or observe a sudden reversal. Naturally, surprises like these can be explored using many different perspectives: linguistic, logical-analytic, pragmatic, phenomenological, psychological, sociological, anthropological, mathematical and historical; but of all possible approaches to paradox, surely the best suited for understanding such phenomena are semiotic. This hypothesis, at least, is one key motivating factor in the design and production of the present volume. And why? Why might we expect a semiotic approach to be more suitable for the exploration of paradox(es) than any other perspective? The answer can be stated in a single term: “openness”. [from the Preface] Semiotics 2014 includes a selection of revised, peer-reviewed papers originally presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Semiotic Society of America, Seattle, Washington, 2–5 October 2014. The Semiotic Society of America is an interdisciplinary professional organization that supports innovative scholarship linking analytical and critical approaches to the postmodern world. The SSA Yearbook is an annual peer-reviewed publication series sponsored by the Semiotic Society of America, providing both a timely overview of current developments in Semiotic research and a regular outlet for members of the society to publish aspects of their current work. pdf includes Masthead, Preface and Table of Contents for 2014 Yearbook of the Semiotic Society of America. Ottawa: Legas. xiv, 694 pp.