"Ecological semiotics" paper presented at 25th gathering in biosemiotics, Rotterdam

Today I presented my paper "Ecological semiotics" on the first day of the 25th Annual Gathering in Biosemiotics, which is held at Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, August 25-29th. Some 55 people attended.

Abstract for NASS XIV: "Ecological semiotics, lifeworld perspectives, and sustainability"

I have just composed and submitted the abstract below to organizers of The 14th conference of the Nordic Association for Semiotic Studies along with the 15th Annual Lotman Days, which has the theme “Creativity – Complexity – Intelligence“ and is held in Tallinn, Estonia, June 11–13, 2025.

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"Ecological semiotics, lifeworld perspectives, and sustainability"

Abstract

Morten Tønnessen 

Drawing on my recently published encyclopedia chapter “Ecological semiotics” (Tønnessen 2024), in this presentation I outline how ecological complexity is underpinned by sign use and sign systems. Ecological semiotics, or ecosemiotics, can be understood as the study of sign use by organisms in an ecological context. In ecology, semiotic phenomena and sign processes occur at different levels of biological organization, and distinctive kinds of sign use is characteristic of different kinds of interspecies interaction. Ecosemiotic studies help to explain how ecological complexity can be understood in semiotic terms, and how sentient organisms interpret their environment and make choices that are informed by their sign use. I will present the basic theoretical outlook of ecological semiotics with an emphasis on lifeworld perspectives, particularly represented by the Umwelt theory of Jakob von Uexküll (2010). This implies relating ecosemiotics to phenomenology, subjectivity and agency. In a more rudimentary sense, even plants, fungi and microorganisms have agency which can be framed in semiotic terms. In my work, I stress the relevance of a semiotic approach for human ecology and contemporary discussions concerning environmental sustainability. While ecosemiotics is amply informative applied to general ecology, it is especially pertinent in the context of understanding how human agency and sign use affects the environment at large. Ecological semiotics can help us understand how genuinely human sign use stands out from non-human sign use, and the ways in which human sign use is subject to cultural variation. Crucially, a semiotic approach to environmental issues can be informative with regard to understanding how human behaviour and sign use affects non-human lifeworlds by triggering environmental change which is experienced in sign-mediated ways. This positions ecosemiotics to address issues of environmental sustainability.

REFERENCES 

Tønnessen, Morten 2024. “Ecological semiotics”. Chapter. Encyclopedia of Ecology (3rd edition) (Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5.  

von Uexküll, Jacob 2010. A foray into the worlds of animals and humans with A theory of meaning. O’Neil, J. D. (transl.). Minneapolis, London: University of Minnesota Press.

"Ecological semiotics" chapter published

Last week I was informed that my chapter "Ecological semiotics" has been published. First published as a stand-alone chapter as of now, it is part of the 3rd edition of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, which will appear with organized volumes in January 2026.

Reference:

Tønnessen, Morten 2024. Ecological semiotics. Chapter. Encyclopedia of Ecology (3rd edition) (Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences). Elsevier. 9 pp. Planned publication for encyclopedia volumes January 16th, 2026. Abstract online October 19th 2024; chapter published November 21st 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5.

The chapter can also be requested via my ResearchGate profile page if you are registered there.

"Ecological semiotics" chapter in press; abstract now online

The abstract for my chapter "Ecological Semiotics", which is part of the 3rd edition of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, was published online on October 19th.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21964-1.00018-5

Abstract:

Ecological semiotics, or ecosemiotics, is the study of sign use by organisms in an ecological context. This chapter provides an outline of semiotic phenomena in ecology and sign processes at different levels of biological organization and explains how complexity can be understood in semiotic terms. It presents the basic theoretical outlook of ecological semiotics, with emphasis on lifeworld perspectives, particularly represented by the Umwelt theory of Jakob von Uexküll. Studies of sign use can help us to understand how sentient organisms interpret their environment and make choices that are informed by their sign use. In a more rudimentary sense, even plants, fungi and microorganisms have agency which can be framed in semiotic terms. The chapter also outlines the characteristics of sign use in different kinds of interspecies interaction. Finally, the relevance of ecological semiotics for human ecology is stressed. While ecosemiotics is amply informative applied to general ecology, it is especially pertinent in the context of understanding how human agency and sign use affects the environment at large. Ecological semiotics can help us understand how genuinely human sign use stands out from non-human sign use, and the ways in which human sign use is subject to cultural variation. Crucially, ecological semiotics can be informative with regard to understanding how human behavior and sign use affects non-human lifeworlds by triggering environmental change which is experienced in sign-mediated ways. This positions ecosemiotics to address issues of environmental sustainability.

#9,5

Today I have had half an article writing day, devoted to proof-reading my chapter for Elsevier´s forthcoming 3rd edition of Encyclopedia of Ecology, "Ecological Semiotics". So far this Autumn I have had 9,5 writing days including 5 article writing days and 4,5 book writing days.

"Ecological semiotics" chapter accepted for publication in Encyclopedia of Ecology

I have been notified that my chapter "Ecological semiotics" has been accepted for publication in the 3rd edition of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology (forthcoming in 2024/2025).

#36 - Encyclopedia of ecology chapter "Ecological semiotics" finished

Today I have had half an article day devoted to finishing my chapter "Ecological semiotics" for the forthcoming 3rd edition of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of ecology, with some 250 words added to the text, and the manuscript finally completed, and submitted. So far this Spring I have had 36 writing days.

#34,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to expanding my encyclopedia article "Ecological Semiotics", which I write for Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, third edition, with some 1.000 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have had 34,5 writing days.

#33,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to expanding my encyclopedia article "Ecological Semiotics", which I write for Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, third edition, with some 700 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have had 33,5 writing days. I have now logged more than 20.000 words written so far in 2024.

#32,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to expanding my encyclopedia article "Ecological Semiotics", which I write for Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, third edition, with some 1.100 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have had 32,5 writing days.

#31,5

Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to expanding my encyclopedia article "Ecological Semiotics", which I write for Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, third edition, with some 100 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have had 31,5 writing days.

#31

Today I have had half an article writing day devoted to expanding my encyclopedia article "Ecological Semiotics", which I write for Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology, third edition, with some 350 words added to the manuscript. So far this Spring I have had 31 writing days.

#30,5

Today I have had what ended up as half an article writing day, #30,5 so far this Spring. I have made some minor edits in the article on Arne Næss´ views on the philosophy of economics, which I co-write with Jan Karlstrøm and Thomas Hylland Eriksen, and obtained a figure permission for and done a little writing on the chapter "Ecological Semiotics" which is to be published as part of Elsevier´s Encyclopedia of Ecology (third edition).

#21,5

Today I have had an article writing day, with some 100 words written. I mainly did some editing and literature search for the second article I co-write with Joakim Jiri Haaland, whom I supervise for his ph.d. I also got some editorial information and feedback and made some plans with regard to my chapter "Ecological semiotics", which will be part of the 3rd edition of Encyclopedia of Ecology, and the article on Arne Næss´ views on economics which I co-write with Jan Karlstrøm and Thomas Hylland Eriksen, which we got back from Norsk Filosofisk Tidsskrift for revision. So far this Spring I have had 21,5 writing days.

#5, first draft of "Ecological semiotics" chapter finished and submitted

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to finish a first draft of my chapter for the 3rd edition of Encyclopedia of ecology, "Ecological semiotics", with some 1.800 words written, the most so far this year in one day. I also submitted the manuscript to Elsevier´s system. I have further work to do during revisions. The number of writing days so far this Spring is now 5.

#4

Today I have had half a writing day, bringing the Spring´s total up to 4, largely devoted to my chapter "Ecological semiotics" for the 3rd edition of Encyclopedia of Ecology, with some 600 words written. I also did a little bit on my book project Captured.

#3,5

Today I have had an article writing day devoted to the chapter for Encyclopedia of ecology "Ecological semiotics", with some 800 words written. Number of writing days so far this Spring is 3,5.

#2,5

Today I have had an article writing day, #2,5 this Spring, with some 1.100 words written altogether, mostly on the letter to the editor "Understanding subjecthood and experience" (see previous post), and secondarily on the book chapter "Ecological semiotics".

#33,5; article "Kan velferd og miljø måles i forlengelsen av BNP?" submitted to Samfunnsøkonomen

Over the last three days I have altogether conducted half a writing day, with some work done on my contribution to Encyclopedia of Ecology, updates received concerning the book Mars and the Earthlings and, indirectly, my book project Captured. Today I finally finished editing the article "Kan velferd og miljø måles i forlengelsen av BNP" (Can welfare and environment be measured in extension of GDP?), which I have co-written with Jan Karlstrøm, and which I just submitted to the Norwegian academic journal Samfunnsøkonomen.

The number of completed writing days this Autumn is now 33,5.

#31

Today I have had half a writing day, with some 300 words added to the chapter "Ecological semiotics" which I am co-writing for Encyclopedia of Ecology. The number of writing days carried out so far this semester is now 31.