This paper explains four key terms in detail and ponders upon the concept behind each one of them. These four key terms include Sign, Ideology, Taking the role of the other and Validity Claim.
Sign
Peirce is the originator of the term sign. According to him there are three states of mind which include firstly feeling, which represents the emotional experience one goes through when not asleep and has a presence inside his or her mind Reaction, which takes place when one is presented with an external stimuli that triggers some sort of an action or the feeling of acting upon something, or wanting to act upon something Thinking, which is the process through which a person makes sense of the stimuli around him or her presented to him in the form of situations, people or things this being the transition between ignorance and knowledge.
Sign, according to Peirce is one of the three kinds of interest a person is capable of developing whereby something makes an entrance into the mind with the aim of conveying a meaning or an idea of something. The other two interests besides Sign include primary and secondary interest. No one apart from humans can do what these signs do for them because Peirce regards this as an important component in acquiring knowledge.
The significance of Signs can be gauged from the communication strategies we adopt in our lives through the inclusion of semiotics. Semiotics, as Peirce said involves both signs that we make use of in our everyday speech as well as anything that stands for something else. Signs play a huge significance since they can take the shape of sounds, images, words, gestures as well as objects. In our social life, signs play a huge role because a sign can stand for something to someone in some capacity or respect, in a way that communication is actually made possible by making meaningful communication. Signs hence include semantics, syntax as well as pragmatics. Peirce has discussed Sign as having within it three types or three states, these being the topic of discussion in this part of the paper.
Likenesses
This type of Sign relates to the pictorial representation of things that indicate something knowledgeable to the naked eye because of the mere fact that there is resemblance in the way two or more figures or drawings have in common. Therefore, it can be a safe surmise to assume that due to the physical connection between two similar pictorial objects, there is resemblance between them because the objects were drawn (example) in a way as to actually correlate with something naturally present in the space around them. Due to the presence of these objects besides one other it is safe to assume that they belong to the area under one single umbrella of ideas.
Indications
In order to convey meaning to another person it is important to analyze the bigger picture through indications given by the subject speaker when describing what he wants to say. These indications even though come later into the picture form an immensely important part of the transaction so as to completely transfer what was intended to be sent to the receiver. This type of a sign hence points toward having references in the communication process we indulge in. In order to jolt the memory both short and long-term it is important that the element of indication as a sign is present.
Symbols
In order to identify things around us it is essential that words are used to represent the connection in meaning of the idea being talked about. Hence, any physical and non-tangible object or word can be proclaimed a symbol if it achieves the role of conveying a connection between things.
Ideology
The German Ideology was created by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engles (1846). It revolves around dominant ideas of that age, which Marx points out are the interests of the ruling class primarily. It represents the modern semiotic theory. The mere fact that humans exist forms the First Premise in the history of mankind which progresses into the way of living. This includes the many forms of ownership Ownership through tribal activities including agriculture, hunting and fishing Ownership (communal) through slavery and having property and finally Ownership through feudalism and capital.
The German ideology transcends into the conception of society through times, by far with the inclusion of many tires in the societal pyramid. The civil society is responsible for the material well-being and use of resources for productive development. Liberation, another aspect in this ideology pertains to further development of society within the material approach through advancement in industrial development, commercial activities as well as agricultural units. This phase is responsible for the commercial and societal enlargement and advancement according to Marx. Thirdly, there is also the talk of a ruling class which in every era raises ruling ideas to be followed by the rest. This class has power because of having ownership of materials both tangible commercial, agricultural etc. and intangible loyalty, respect and honor. German Ideology therefore comprises of the division of labor (both material and mental like the division of town and country) the rise in manufacturing through introduction of the element of competition and trade activities and the connection between State to property through laws.
Significance of the German Ideology even in todays world is immense since his analysis of capitalism still can be seen to be used to the benefit of many countries. His work also has been declared controversial by many who are anti-capitalist and pro-socialist. The German Ideology needs to be read and experienced by everyone due to its significance that seems high even today. We cannot change the world unless it is properly understood and Marxs work - The German Ideology helps us understand the underpinnings of society which enable us to learn deeper the cause of many problems we have to confront today.
Taking the Role of the other
Mead, G. H. (1939), has done work on the mind, self and society wherein he has talked about taking the role of the other. He says that as an individual realizes of his consciousness towards his own ideas and mental processes, he or she attains consciousness of other individuals as well. Taking the Role of the other pertains to the social foundation with respect to thought and communication by identification of oneself, identification of someone else, identification of self with another entity as well as realizing ones consciousness about oneself through that entity. All this according to Mead (1939) is made possible because of the element of communication in the process. Role taking according to Mead (1939) hence occurs through the developmental process of identifying with the other in a way that it actually becomes a behavioral set that can be scientifically studied.
For the self to develop, it is essential that role of the other is taken upon oneself to define behavior from the viewpoint of others around us. This is a process that helps in the intellectual development of the self as one goes through periods of imitation (as in infants), play-acting (as in children) and generalizing resulting into the self going through subsequent changes and transformations.
Mead (1939) talks about dependency upon individuals that other individuals have to enable themselves to function as intelligent social beings for which the importance of taking someones elses role becomes necessary. Another significance of this key term is that it helps us interact in social settings as we apply rationality to the interactional process we indulge in. It is only by generalizing the other can we actually think properly and understand the system we live in. The significance of this key term is huge since we know it is appropriate responses of others that will keep the communication process intact making communication possible in the first place. We interpret messages sent to us and if we do not think in the other persons shoes, we are not making use of an effective communication strategy since the probability of not getting a coherent response goes down in the absence of taking the role of others.
Validity Claim
Habermas originated the term validity claims. He talks about validity claims in communication by indicating that language forms a centre-point through which realization of worldly objectives and social objectives takes place. This passing through according to the philosopher forms three relations to reality, these being firstly, the representation of facts secondly, forming valid interpersonal linkages and lastly communicating subjective ideas. Language has two kinds of orientations, one with communication itself through the dimension of validity and the other with the revelation and admission of truth meaning.
There are four kinds of validity claims according to Habermas, these being comprehensible (graspable and understandable), truth (of existential and non existential factors), normative rightness (apposition of thought, norms and ideas) and truthfulness (faithfulness, accuracy and sincerity). Peirce too follows the works of Habermas as the former supports the validity claim that learning takes place through having ones expectations disappointed. The four validity claims cannot be reduced to one single factor or element as each is fundamental in its own right and hence different from the other.
There is immense significance in communication of Validity Claims as well. Through its use, the course of communication becomes smooth as the communicators display the practical meaning of their message intelligently as they acknowledge the truth behind the proposition made and as they recognize the normative rightness of the norm being discussed so as to not doubt the sincerity of the other speaker. Validity claim render communication justified and results into a obliquely produced agreement.
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