The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘Pragmatism’

Quote: 

It is now necessary to point out that there are three kinds of interpretants. Our categories suggest them, and the suggestion is confirmed by careful examination. I terms them the Emotional, the Energetic, and Logical Interpretants. They consist respectively in feelings, in efforts, and in habit-changes. [—]

Every sign whatever that functions as such must have an emotional interpretant; for under that head comes the feeling of recognizing the sign as such; and it is plain that a sign not recognized is not a sign at all. The performance of a piece of music may excite musical emotions without being a sign. But if the hearer discerns in the notes the musical ideas or emotions of a composer, then the music conveys a message from the composer, and it becomes a sign.

Date: 
1907
References: 
MS [R] 318:43-4
Citation: 
‘Emotional Interpretant’ (pub. 13.10.15-17:08). Quote in M. Bergman & S. Paavola (Eds.), The Commens Dictionary: Peirce's Terms in His Own Words. New Edition. Retrieved from http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-pragmatism-36.
Posted: 
Oct 13, 2015, 17:08 by Mats Bergman