Thinking with Diagrams: The Semiotic Basis of Human Cognition

Published by De Gruyter Mouton 2016

Thinking with Diagrams

The Semiotic Basis of Human Cognition

Edited by: Sybille Krämer and Christina Ljungberg

Volume 17 in the series Semiotics, Communication and Cognition [SCC]

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501503757

Overview
Contents

About this book

Diagrammatic reasoning is crucial for human cognition. It is hard to think of any forms of science or knowledge without the "intermediary world" of diagrams and diagrammatic representation in thought experiments and/or processes, manifested in forms as divers as notes, tables, schemata, graphs, drawings and maps. Despite their phenomenological and structural-functional differences, these forms of representation share a number of important attributes and epistemic functions. Combining aspects of linguistic and pictorial symbolism, diagrams go beyond the traditional distinction between language and image. They do not only represent, yet intervene in what is represented. Their spatiality, materiality and operativity establish a dynamic tool to exteriorize thinking, thus contributing to the idea of the extended mind. They foster imagination and problem solving, facilitate orientation in knowledge spaces and the discovery of unsuspected relationships.

How can the diagrammatic nature of cognitive and knowledge practices be theorized historically as well as systematically? This is what this volume explores by investigating the semiotic dimension of diagrams as to knowledge, information and reasoning, e.g., the 'thing-ness' of diagrams in the history of art, the range of diagrammatic reasoning in logic, mathematics, philosophy and the sciences in general, including the knowledge function of maps.

Author / Editor information

Sybille Krämer, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Christina Ljungberg, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Table of contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Thinking and diagrams – An introduction Sybille Krämer and Christina Ljungberg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
I. What is a diagram and how does it function?
1. On the “thing-ness” of diagrams Michael Marrinan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
2. The role of diagrams in abductive reasoning Sun-Joo Shin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
3. Behind the diagrams: cognitive issues and open problems Valeria Giardino Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	77
4. Diagrammatic problem solving Frederik Stjernfelt and Svend Østergaard Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
5. Is there a general diagram concept? Ahti-Veikko Pietarinen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	121
6. The diagrammatic nature of maps Christina Ljungberg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	139
II. Diagrammatic scenes
7. Is there a diagrammatic impulse with Plato? ‘Quasi-diagrammatic-scenes’ in Plato’s philosophy Sybille Krämer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
8. The diagram as board game: Semiotic discoveries in Alfonso the Wise’s Book of Games (1283 CE) – with some observations as to Gudea as Architect (2000 BCE) Steffen Bogen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	179
9. Pattern language and space syntax: Alexander, Chomsky, Peirce and Wittgenstein Matthias Bauer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Index of names Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	237
Index of subjects Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	241

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
Audience: Students and Researchers of Semiotics, Linguistics, Communication, Social Sciences, Literary and Cultural Studies, Philosophy
Pages
- Front matter: 5
- Main content: 247
Keywords: Semiotics; Cognition; Diagrams

eBook

Published: July 11, 2016
ISBN: 9781501503757

Hardcover

Published: July 11, 2016
ISBN: 9781501511691