Abstract
Deacon speculates on the origin of interpretation of signs using autocatalytic origin of life models and Peircean terminology. I explain why interpretation evolved only later as a triadic intervention between symbols and actions. In all organisms the passive one-dimensional genetic informational symbol sequences are converted to active functional proteins or nucleic acids by three-dimensional folding. This symbol grounding is a direct symbol-to-action conversion. It is universal throughout all evolution. Folding is entirely a lawful physical process, leaving neither freedom nor necessity for interpretation. Similarly, the initial converse action-to-symbol conversion of sensory inputs also leaves no freedom for interpretation until after the action-to-symbol conversion.
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Pattee, H.H. Symbol Grounding Precedes Interpretation. Biosemiotics 14, 561–568 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-021-09458-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-021-09458-4