My article "Applied umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology" has now been published, as part of the special issue "Umwelt theory".
Reference:
— Tønnessen, Morten 2024. Applied umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology. Sign Systems Studies 52 (3/4) (special issue “Umwelt theory”, eds. Riin Magnus and Nelly Mäekivi): 315–343. https://doi.org/10.12697/SSS.2024.52.3-4.02
Today I have half an article writing day, with proof-reading done on an article that will soon appear in Sign Systems Studies.
Reference:
— Tønnessen, Morten 2024, in production. Applied umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology. Sign Systems Studies 52 (3/4): 315–343. https://doi.org/10.12697/SSS.2024.52.3-4.02
See also an earlier post, from mid-December, where I wrote that I conducted proof-reading of the same article, though that was proof-reading of a different kind - what I did today was the typeset proofs.
So far in Spring 2025 I have had 12,5 writing days including 3 article writing days.
Today I have made the last few edits in my revision of the article "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology", with some 100 words added to the text. I have now resubmitted the manuscript to Sign Systems Studies.
Today I have had half an article writing day, with some 450 words added during the revision of my article "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology". So far this Autumn I have had 7 writing days including 3,5 article writing days and 3,5 book writing days.
Today I held my presentation "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation" digitally at the 24th Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is held at the University of the free state in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as a hybrid event. Some 17 people attended online, in addition a number of people attended physically.
I have been notified by the organizers of the 24th Gathering in biosemiotics, to take place in South Africa, that my paper "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation" has been accepted for oral presentation. Due to a lack of funding, however, I will not be able to attend physically, but luckily there is a chance to attend digitally.
See also:
Today I have had half an article writing day, devoted to finishing my article "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology". I added some 400 words to the manuscript, finished, and submitted to the guest editors of the Sign Systems Studies special issue "Contemporary applications of Umwelt theory" where it will appear this summer or so.
So far this Spring I have had 26 writing days.
Today I have had half a writing day, with some 400 words added to my article "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology". So far this Spring I have had 16 writing days.
Today I have had an article writing day devoted to my article "Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology", with some 700 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have conducted 15,5 writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day, with some 400 words added to my article now titled Applied Umwelt theory in the context of phenomenological triangulation and descriptive phenomenology" (previously: Applied Umwelt theory - in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation), and a table of contents for the article drafted. So far this Spring I have had 13,5 writing days.
Today I have had half an article writing day with work done on my article "Applied Umwelt theory – in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation", and some 200 words added to the text. So far this Spring I have had 12 writing days.
I have just submitted the abstract below to the organizers of the 24th Gathering in Biosemiotics, which will be held in Bloemfontein, South Africa, June 17-21st.
***
Applied Umwelt theory in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation
Author: Morten Tønnessen
Affiliation: Professor of philosophy, Department of social studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
In earlier work, I have argued that a genuine ´Uexküllian phenomenology´ can be derived from the Umwelt theory of Jakob von Uexküll and that such a phenomenology is capable of accounting for the subjective experience of both humans and animals. With its foundation in contemporary biosemiotics, such a modern, empirically informed phenomenology is particularly relevant for the study of human-animal relations and interaction in societal and ecological settings. In a recent chapter (Tønnessen 2023) I have outlined a scientific method for conducting qualitative studies of human and animal lifeworlds by introducing a semiotically informed descriptive phenomenology. While descriptive phenomenology in its current forms is typically only applicable to the study of human lifeworlds (Giorgi 2009), a reiteration of descriptive phenomenology that draws on Umwelt theory can be designed to be non-anthropocentric and pluralistic. In this paper I elaborate on a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology and explain how it can be applied within the humanities and social sciences as well as in a natural science context. Furthermore, I will discuss how Umwelt theory can be made use of as part of a methodology of phenomenological triangulation, in which 1st, 2nd and 3rd person perspectives are combined in studies of one and the same study object. This methodology draws on ideas developed in cognitive semiotics by Jordan Zlatev, Göran Sonesson, and others (e.g. Zlatev 2012). Overall, this paper aims to contribute to integrating biosemiotics and phenomenology and demonstrating the relevance of Umwelt theory for phenomenology, and vice versa.
REFERENCES
Giorgi, Amedeo (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology. Duquesne University Press.
Tønnessen, Morten (2023). Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology. Pp. 303–314 in Open Semiotics (4 volumes, ed. Amir Biglari), volume 4: Life and its extensions. Paris: L’Harmattan.
Zlatev, Jordan (2012). Cognitive Semiotics: An emerging field for the transdisciplinary study of meaning. The Public Journal of Semiotics IV(1) (2012): 2–24.
***
See also:
#27,5; abstract for special issue of Sign Systems Studies on Umwelt theory
Today I have had what ended up as half a writing day, bringing the Autumn´s total so far up to 27,5, with an abstract written for my prospective contribution to a special issue of Sign Systems Studies titled “Contemporary applications of umwelt theory”, and a little work done on my book project Captured, and some 300 words composed in total.
***
Work title: Applied Umwelt theory – in the context of descriptive phenomenology and phenomenological triangulation
Author: Morten Tønnessen
Abstract for the special issue “Contemporary applications of umwelt theory”, Sign Systems Studies
In earlier work, I have argued that a genuine ´Uexküllian phenomenology´ can be derived from the Umwelt theory of Jacob von Uexküll and that such a phenomenology is capable of accounting for the subjective experience of both humans and animals. With its foundation in contemporary biosemiotics, such a modern, empirically informed phenomenology is particularly relevant for the study of human-animal relations and interaction in societal and ecological settings. In a recent chapter, I have outlined a scientific method for conducting qualitative studies of human and animal lifeworlds by introducing a semiotically informed descriptive phenomenology. While descriptive phenomenology in its current forms is typically only applicable to the study of human lifeworlds, a reiteration of descriptive phenomenology that draws on umwelt theory can be designed to be non-anthropocentric and pluralistic. In this article, I will elaborate on a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology and explain how it can be applied within the humanities and social sciences as well as in a natural science context. Furthermore, I will discuss how umwelt theory can be made use of as part of a methodology of phenomenological triangulation, in which 1st, 2nd and 3rd person perspectives are combined in studies of one and the same study object. This methodology draws on ideas developed in cognitive semiotics by Jordan Zlatev, Göran Sonesson, and others. Overall, the aim of this article is to contribute to integrating biosemiotics and phenomenology and demonstrating the relevance of umwelt theory for phenomenology, and vice versa.
The 4 books comprising Open Semiotics, edited by Amir Biglari, have now been published, according to the publisher, L´Harmattan´s website. My chapter "Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology" appears in volume 4, "Life and its extensions".
Reference:
— Tønnessen, Morten 2023. Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology. Pp. 303–314 in Open Semiotics (4 volumes, ed. Amir Biglari), volume 4: Life and its extensions. Paris: L’Harmattan.
I have composed an abstract for my plenary speech at the conference “Contemporary Umwelt Analysis: Applications for Culture and Ecological Relations” (to be held April 18-19th in Tartu, Estonia).
***
Title: “A comprehensive framework for studies of changing Umwelten”
By Morten Tønnessen
Using Jakob von Uexküll´s classical Umwelt theory and updated knowledge on how human agency works as a driver of environmental change as starting points, I will present a comprehensive framework for studies of changing human and animal Umwelten. The framework indicates how past Umwelten, contemporary Umwelten, and future Umwelten can be studied by drawing on Umwelt theory accompanied by other relevant fields of study. The framework is comprehensive not only in that it allows for studies of different Umwelt temporalities, and different “layers” of the Umwelt (core – mediated – conceptual), but also by being applicable at different levels of biological organization, and by showing how changes in the Umwelt (outer subjective world) are correlated with changes in the Innenwelt (inner subjective world) and the physical environment. By seeing changes in the Umwelt, the Innenwelt, and the physical environment in context, we can achieve a better understanding of the interplay between semiotic causation and efficient causation in socio-ecological and socio-cultural contexts, and of how human agency can cause environmental problems – and solutions. In the setting of culture, socio-cultural transformations are particularly pertinent. In light of the framework presented here, these can be understood as involving collective Innenwelt transitions that in turn affect how we perceive our Umwelt. As part of my presentation, I will outline how Umwelt theory can serve as the basis of a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology suitable for studies of animal Umwelten and human–animal relations. I will further share some tentative ideas about how Umwelt theory can play a role in phenomenological triangulation, in which 1st, 2nd and 3rd person perspectives are combined (drawing on methodology developed by Jordan Zlatev).
Bionote: Morten Tønnessen (born 1976) is a Professor of philosophy at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies, Norway. He has worked with Jakob von Uexküll´s Umwelt theory since his master degree in philosophy (University of Oslo, 2002) and ph.d. thesis in philosophy and semiotics (University of Tartu, 2011).
Today I am proof-reading this chapter, which has updated bibliographical info:
Tønnessen, Morten, forthcoming, 2023. Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology. In Open Semiotics (4 volumes, ed. Amir Biglari), volume 4: Life and its extensions, pp. 303–314. Paris: L’Harmattan.
Today, at the "15th World Congress of Semiotics - Semiotics in the lifeworld", held in Thessaloniki, Greece (August 30th to September 3rd), I presented two papers, "Umwelt theory for practitioners - semiotic guidelines for a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology", in the session "Biosemiotics, Umwelt, and the lifeworld", with some 25 people attending, and "Semiotics of ethology and zoology", in the session "Semiotics in the diciplines", with some 50 people attending.
I have been scheduled to give two online talks at the 15th World congress of semiotics, with the theme "Semiotics in the lifeworld" (Thessaloniki, Greece, August 30 - September 3), both to be given on Friday September 2nd:
— 09.00-11.30 session “Biosemiotics, Umwelt, and the Lifeworld” with my presentation “Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology” (room 1)
— 15:00–17:30 session “Semiotics in the Disciplines: Progress and Priorities” with my presentation “Semiotics in ethology and zoology” (room 5)
I never received any formal answer concerning my 2 other submitted abstracts.
I have just composed the abstract below for the 21st Gathering in biosemiotics, which will be held online and possibly in Stockholm on July 26-29th.
**
The relevance of Umwelt theory for the theory and practice of phenomenology
Morten Tønnessen, Professor of philosophy, Department of social studies, University of Stavanger, Norway
**@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This presentation draws on two chapters I have recently written, one titled “Phenomenology” (to appear in Sharov & Tønnessen, forthcoming) and the other “Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology” (Tønnessen, forthcoming).
In the first chapter, we discuss the phenomenological tradition within philosophy with emphasis on representative phenomenological positions on subjectivity, sentience, consciousness and self-consciousness, and make the argument that giving phenomenology a biosemiotic grounding will make it more comprehensive. Even though both Husserl and Heidegger, two classics of phenomenology, acknowledged that animals have subjective lifeworlds, their respective phenomenologies were clearly anthropocentric. The same goes for most mainstream versions of contemporary phenomenology. Heidegger states this anthropocentric bias plainly when, after referring to the Umwelt theory of Jakob von Uexküll, he claims that animals are “poor in world”. The Umwelt theory offers an alternative, more pluralistic framework for phenomenology – a phenomenology beyond the human, with a biosemiotic basis. Von Uexküll´s Umwelt theory was discussed by Merleau-Ponty and has further inspired several contemporary philosophers within and beyond phenomenology. In the chapter we also discuss the relation between semiotics and phenomenology, including Peirce´s ideas and recent calls for a naturalized phenomenology. While modern phenomenology was from its inception programmatically presented as anti-naturalism, leading contemporary phenomenologists favour realignment between phenomenology and naturalism. With its roots in sign theory and biology, biosemiotics can contribute further to this endeavour, and be an important piece in the puzzle when realigning phenomenological studies of subjective experience and behaviour with natural science.
The second chapter outlines a scientific method for conducting qualitative studies of human and animal lifeworlds by introducing a semiotically informed descriptive phenomenology that goes beyond the human. A depiction of the theoretical basis for a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology is followed by a depiction of its methodological basis. The chapter concludes with a number of semiotic guidelines for practical application of Umwelt theory organized by relevant professions and settings of study.
Acknowledgements: Alexei Sharov contributed to the chapter “Phenomenology”. Tønnessen is a member of the University of Stavanger´s program areas for research “Philosophy and subjectivity” and “The Greenhouse: An environmental humanities initiative at University of Stavanger”.
References
— Tønnessen, M., forthcoming. Umwelt theory for practitioners: Semiotic guidelines for application in a more-than-human descriptive phenomenology. In Amir Biglari (ed), Open Semiotics. Paris: L’Harmattan.
— Sharov, A. & Tønnessen, M., forthcoming: Semiotic Agency: Science beyond Mechanism. Springer Nature.
