Abstract
In his 1903 Syllabus, Charles S. Peirce makes a distinction between icons and iconic signs, or hypoicons, and briefly introduces a division of the latter into images, diagrams, and metaphors. Peirce scholars have tried to make better sense of those concepts by understanding iconic signs in the context of the ten classes of signs described in the same Syllabus. We will argue, however, that the three kinds of hypoicons can better be understood in the context of Peirce's sixty-six classes of signs. We analyze examples of hypoicons taken from the field of information design, describing them in the framework of the sixty-six classes, and discuss the consequences of those descriptions to the debate about the order of determination of the 10 trichotomies that form those classes.
About the authors
Her research interests include graphic design, information design, typography, and C. S. Peirce's semiotics. Her recent publications include Tipografia digital: o impacto das novas tecnologias (2001); ‘On diagrams for Peirce's 10, 28, and sixty-six classes of signs’ (with João Queiroz, 2003); Fontes digitais brasileiras: de 1989 a 2001 (with Gustavo Piqueira 2004); and ‘Images, diagrams and metaphors: A contribution from semiotics to information design’ (2005).
João Queiroz (b. 1963). His research interests are C. S. Peirce's semiotic, pragmatism, biosemiotics, and cognitive science. His recent publications include Semiose segundo C. S. Peirce (2004); ‘10cubes and 3N3: using interactive diagrams to investigate Charles Peirce's classifications of signs’ (with Priscila Farias, 2004); ‘Abduction — between subjectivity and objectivity’ (with Floyd Merrell, 2005); and ‘Modos de irredutibilidade das propriedades emergentes’ (with Charbel El-Hani et al. 2005).
© Walter de Gruyter
