I agree with Stephen, to a large degree, though he states it stronger than I might.
I have written extensively on the absence of instincts. Two book-length studies: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Matter-Mind-Articulated-Unconscious/dp/022607076X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1512918473&sr=8-5&keywords=daniel+everett https://www.amazon.com/Language-Cultural-Daniel-L-Everett/dp/0307473805/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1512918473&sr=8-4&keywords=daniel+everett There is also this very good book by Marc Blumberg: https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Instinct-Behavior-Mark-Blumberg/dp/1560256591/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512918543&sr=1-1&keywords=basic+instinct+blumberg My book in progress on Peirce’s epistemology for Oxford U Press, deals with the concept of “instinct” in Peirce and other earlier writers (e.g. Hume). Though sometimes their ideas of instinct overlapped slightly with what many contemporary nativists believe, in general their use of the term is quite different. Dan On Dec 10, 2017, at 10:05 AM, Stephen Jarosek <sjaro...@iinet.net.au<mailto:sjaro...@iinet.net.au>> wrote: List, in the interests of the universality of semiosis, it would be helpful, I believe, to do away entirely with the notion of instinct. No such thing. ALL organism's are decision-makers, making choices from their ecosystems. What one might typically categorize as instinct, in other animals, is nothing other than a reduced horizon of options (analogous to a goldfish living inside a small bowl instead of a wide ocean). ALL organisms have to "know how to be." A fish behaves exactly as I would behave if my body were that of a fish. Or, putting it another way… a man behaves as a woman would behave if her body were that of a man. And once we do away with this notion of instinct as a preprogrammed blueprint for behavior, so too we might extend the same reasoning to atoms and molecules. That is, the mechanics of chemical bonds and subatomic forces are not what "determine" atomic and molecular properties (behavior). Rather, atoms and molecules must also "know how to be", in accordance with their own mind-body predispositions... that's why semiosis is relevant also to quantum mechanics, imho... and nonlocality (entanglement) is integral to enabling semiosis to take place at that level. The mechanics of chemical bonds and subatomic forces are the product of semiosis, and not its cause. Hence the motivation behind my previously-referenced article, Quantum Semiotics<http://journals.sfu.ca/jnonlocality/index.php/jnonlocality/article/view/64/63>. While we are discussing the role of mind-body predispositions in semiosis and pragmatism... I am reminded of Simon and Garfunkel's El Condor Pasa. In its original form, it was a Peruvian folk song about a group of Andean miners who were exploited by their boss. The condor (condor mind-body) looks from the sky, at the human mind-bodies toiling away in the mines, and it becomes the symbol of freedom for the miners to achieve: I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail Yes, I would; If I could; I surely would I'd rather be a hammer than a nail Yes, I would; If I only could; I surely would Away, I'd rather sail away Like a swan that's here and gone A man gets tied up to the ground He gives the world its saddest sound It's saddest sound I'd rather be a forest than a street Yes, I would; If I could; I surely would I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet Yes, I would; If I only could; I surely would Regards From: Edwina Taborsky [mailto:tabor...@primus.ca] Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2017 2:07 AM To: g...@gnusystems.ca<mailto:g...@gnusystems.ca>; peirce-l@list.iupui.edu<mailto:peirce-l@list.iupui.edu>; Mike Bergman Subject: Re: Re: [PEIRCE-L] Laws of Nature Mike, list - My reference to semiosis within the physical realm refers to its functioning as a triadic process: Object-Representamen-Interpretant, with each of these nodes in any one of the three modal categories. Certainly, as in the quotes from my other post - habit-taking is a basic quality in the physical realm [see his discussion of such by atoms]. But semiosis is not simply habit-taking [ which is a modal category]. It is a relational or interactive process where one 'bit' of matter interacts with another 'bit' of matter. This is not, as Peirce frequently pointed out, confined to mechanical interactions [Secondness], but includes both spontaneity [Firstness] and also, Mind or Thirdness. But - the focus is on the results of these interactions. Does a crystal simply increase its size by simple mechanical contact or, are its atoms such that Mind both attracts and organizes this expansion. The latter is a key semiosic interaction. [though I would say that a simple mechanical triadic interaction is also semiosic - with each node [O-R-I] in a mode of Secondness. But organization of the results of contact - involves Mind or Thirdness. Edwina On Sat 09/12/17 6:50 PM , Mike Bergman m...@mkbergman.com<mailto:m...@mkbergman.com> sent: Hi Gary f, List, I am generally familiar with the general references for laws and the tendencies to them. I guess I did not address my question well. Are there passages from Peirce where he specifically connects semiosis or signs to nature, other than the passing reference to crystals? I believe we can infer that Peirce likely believed the laws of nature to be subject to semiosis, but is it anywhere stated something like that? I found the connection of CP 5.105 'law of nature' to signs or semiosis in the context of my question to be unclear, though suggesting it was helpful. I read on and found CP 5.107 a little more to the point, but still vague. I do like the fact this comes up in his discussion of the reality of Thirdness. Still, pretty thin gruel. Maybe that is as strong as the evidence gets. Thanks! Mike On 12/9/2017 5:02 PM, g...@gnusystems.ca<mailto:g...@gnusystems.ca> wrote: Mike, There are plenty of passages in Peirce which virtually identify semiosis with Representation and thus with Thirdness, and the laws of nature being generallaws, Thirdness is predominant in them. For instance there is CP 5.105, EP 2:184): [[ Thirdness, as I use the term, is only a synonym for Representation, to which I prefer the less colored term because its suggestions are not so narrow and special as those of the word Representation. Now it is proper to say that a general principle that is operative in the real world is of the essential nature of a Representation and of a Symbol because its modus operandi is the same as that by which words produce physical effects. ]] Gary f. From: Mike Bergman [mailto:m...@mkbergman.com] Sent: 9-Dec-17 17:25 To: peirce-l@list.iupui.edu<mailto:peirce-l@list.iupui.edu> Subject: [PEIRCE-L] Laws of Nature Hi List, I was reading Nathan Houser's piece on "Peirce, Phenomenology, and Semiotics" in the Routledge Companion [1] and came across this quote: "One of the principal realms of sign activity, or semiosis (semeiosis), is human thought; but semiosis prevails wherever there is life and there is some reason to believe that even the laws of nature are semiotic products." (emphasis added) I am aware of the reference to crystals and bees (CP 4.551), but do not recall seeing Peirce references to signs in inanimate nature other than crystals. Does anyone on the list know of others? Thanks! Mike [1] Houser, N., “Peirce, Phenomenology, and Semiotics,” The Routledge Companion to Semiotics, P. 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