Semiotic confederations meeting in Kaunas

On June 29th, I attended a semi-formal meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania, for representatives of various international semiotics confederations, representing the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS). The meeting was convened by IASS President Paul Cobley, and attended by a dozen people or so.

Photos from 13th world congress of semiotics

Taken from Facebook.

Representing Biosemiotics at journals fair in Kaunas

Two days ago, on Wednesday afternoon, at the 13th world congress of semiotics (Kaunas June 26-30th), I participated in the semiotic journals fair, along with fellow co-editors of Biosemiotics Alexei Sharov and Timo Maran.

"Uexküllian phenomenology" presented in Kaunas

Yesterday, at the 13th world congress of semiotics (Kaunas June 26-30th), I presented my paper "Uexküllian phenomenology" in the morning session of "Biosemiotics in dialogue". Some 15 people were present.

"Biosemiotics in dialogue" session chaired in Kaunas

Earlier today I chaired a brief session in the segment "Biosemiotics in dialogue" during the ongoing 13th world congress of semiotics in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Two sessions at NASS X chaired

Today I have chaired two session at the 10th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, which started today, at 11.00-12.30 and 16.00-17.00 respectively.

Uexküllian phenomenology presentation scheduled for June 29th

My presentation "Uexküllian phenomenology" has been scheduled for presentation at the 13th World Congress of Semiotics (Kaunas, Lithuania June 26th to 30th), in the session "Biosemiotics in dialogue", on Thursday June 29th at 9.00-9.30.

Abstracts evaluated for NASS X

In late February I have taken part in assessing revised abstracts submitted to NASS X (Kaunas, June) as part of the conference´s Scientific committee.

Paper "Uexküllian phenomenology" accepted to presentation in Kaunas

I have been informed that my abstract for the 13th IASS-AIS World Congress of Semiotics (Kaunas, June 26-30th) has been successfully reviewed by the scientific committee of the congress. This must concern my abstract for the session "Biosemiotics in dialogue", entitled "Uexküllian phenomenology".

3rd and final abstract deadline for NASS X

The final abstract deadline for the 10th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies, to be held in conjunction with the 13th World Congress of Semiotics in Kaunas, Lithuania, June 26-30th 2017, is January 31st. See the NASS webpage for more info.

Extended abstract deadline for NASS X

The deadline for abstract submission to the 10th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS), to be held in Kaunas, Lithuania in conjunction with the 13th world congress of semiotics, has been extended to December 20th. See the webpage of NASS.

Two abstracts accepted for peer-review

I have been notified by the International Semiotics Institute that my abstracts "Uexküllian phenomenology" (submitted to NASS X) and "Umwelt theory revisited – contemporary Uexküllian thought in 10 points" (submitted to the 13th world congress of semiotics) have been accepted for peer-review.

Abstract for World Congress of Semiotics (Kaunas): "Uexküllian phenomenology"

Today I composed and submitted an abstract for the session "Biosemiotics in dialogue" at the 13th world congress of semiotics, entitled "Uexküllian phenomenology".

Uexküllian phenomenology 

Abstract

We are located at the junction of nature and culture, and of semiotics and phenomenology. Can they be reconciled? More particularly, can subfields such as biosemiotics and eco-phenomenology be mutually enriching? I, for one, believe that they can. Uexküllian phenomenology is derived from the Umwelt theory of the Baltic-German biologist Jakob von Uexküll (1864–1944). Its basic premise is that we can assume the universal existence, in the realm of life, of a genuine first person perspective, i.e., of experienced worlds. This assumption characterises Uexküllian phenomenology and makes it a genuine perspective within phenomenology. In this paper I prepare the ground for such a phenomenology by treating the notion of phenomenology, the relation between semiotics and phenomenology, Husserl’s notion of Lebenswelt, and finally the notion of Uexküllian phenomenology. The purpose is to make the case that Uexküllian phenomenology is justified, and to situate it within phenomenological and semiotic thought at large. 

Reference

Tønnessen, Morten 2015. Uexküllian phenomenology. Chinese Semiotic Studies 11(3): 347–369. 

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.

CFP: Session "Biosemiotics in dialogue" at 13th World Congress of Semiotics

CFP for the session “Biosemiotics in dialogue”

IASS/AIS 13th World Congress of Semiotics “Cross-Inter-Multi-Trans” (Kaunas, Lithuania, 26-30 June 2017)

Conceptually, biosemiotics is the semiotic study of living systems. In essence, biosemiotics is already more-than-semiotic as well as more-than-biological – it is interdisciplinary in nature, and builds on synthesis between ideas and theories from various fields. In this session, we will look at the history as well as future of biosemiotics in its relating to various fields.

More specifically, we look for answers to the following questions: What are the historical, methodological and conceptual ties between biosemiotics and neighboring disciplines? How can fruitful theoretical synthesis in form of biosemiotics best be achieved? How can biosemiotics draw on ideas and perspectives from neighboring fields of endeavor? What can other fields in semiotics and beyond learn from biosemiotics? How can biosemiotics in the best way take part in solving essential scientific problems of our time?

For participating, please register to the World Congress with indication of participation in the session “Biosemiotics in dialogue” and send your abstract also to timo.maran [@] ut.ee. Please note that the registration deadline is November 30, 2016.

With kind regards,

Kalevi Kull,

Morten Tønnessen,

Timo Maran

NASS X held in conjunction with 13th World Congress of Semiotics; abstract deadline November 30

The 10th Conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies (NASS), "Nordic-Baltic links, networks and domains in semiotics and beyond" will be held in conjunction with the 13th World Congress of Semiotics (Kaunas, Lituania, June 26-30th 2017). The Call for Papers, with abstract deadline November 30th, is featured in the 9th newsletter of NASS (now online).

13th world congress of semiotics to be held in Kaunas, Lithuania, 26-30 June 2017

The 13th World Congress of Semiotics will take place in Kaunas, Lithuania, on June 26-30th 2017, cf. the congress website. The abstract deadline is November 30th 2016, cf. Call For Papers.

Quite extraordinarily, arguing that it is the most inclusive diet plus referring to a moral argument, an all-vegan diet has been chosen for the congress, cf. FAQ.

The world congress´ convenor is zoosemiotician Dario Martinelli.