Abstract for NASS X: "Umwelt theory revisited – contemporary Uexküllian thought in 10 points"

Today I have submitted my abstract "Umwelt theory revisited – contemporary Uexküllian thought in 10 points" to NASS X, held in conjunction with the 13th world congress of semiotics (Kaunas, Lithuania, June 26-30th 2017).

Umwelt theory revisited – contemporary Uexküllian thought in 10 points

Abstract

Key elaborations of Jakob von Uexküll´s (1864–1944) Umwelt theory can be summarised in 10 points:

1. Uexküllian phenomenology represents a unique phenomenological perspective.

2. The ontological niche of a being can be defined as the set of contrapuntal relations it takes part in. 

3. Not all Umwelten are species-specific. 

4. Not all Umwelten can be meaningfully studied in isolation.

5. Umwelten undergo Umwelt transitions.

6. In many cases, it makes sense to refer to the Umwelten of different life stages, or to acknowledge that species-specific developmental patterns determine the character of the Umwelt.

7. An Umwelt trajectory represents an aggregate, collective equivalent of Uexküll’s notion of the Umwelt-tunnel.

8. Umwelt mapping results in ontological maps.

9. The tripartite Umwelt model distinguishes between Umwelt objects as encountered, anticipated and conceptualized.

10. An Umwelt ethics rests heavily on fundamental features of the Umwelt theory. 

Reference

Maran, Timo, Morten Tønnessen, Kadri Tüür, Riin Magnus, Silver Rattasepp and Nelly Mäekivi (2016). Methodology of zoosemiotics: concepts, categorizations, models. In Maran, Tønnessen and Rattasepp (eds), Animal Umwelten in a changing world – Zoosemiotic perspectives (Tartu: Tartu University Press 2016), 29–50.