Concept theory and semiotics in knowledge organization

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the basics of semiotic analysis and concept theory that represent two dominant approaches to knowledge representation, and explore how these approaches are fruitful for knowledge organization.Design/methodology/approachIn particular the semiotic theory formulated by the American philosopher C.S. Peirce and the concept theory formulated by Ingetraut Dahlberg are investigated. The paper compares the differences and similarities between these two theories of knowledge representation.FindingsThe semiotic model is a general and unrestricted model of signs and Dahlberg's model is thought from the perspective and demand of better knowledge organization system (KOS) development. It is found that Dahlberg's concept model provides a detailed method for analyzing and representing concepts in a KOS, where semiotics provides the philosophical context for representation.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to combine theories of knowledge representation, semiotic and concept theory, within the context of knowledge organization.

Storing the Wisdom: Chemical Concepts and Chemoinformatics

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Foundational, First-Order, and Second-Order Classification Theory

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“…These studies sought to apply Peirce's theories to understand knowledge in specific fields and to indicate ways to organize it. Another contribution to organizing knowledge was the work of Friedman and Thellefsen (2011), which sought to relate Dahlberg's theory of the concept and Peirce's semiotic theory to the organization of knowledge. Although both theories study representation, they do it differently: Semiotics are based in philosophy and logic to explain how signs evoke meanings, although generally Peirce's theory does not address knowledge organization systems, while Dahlberg's theory does not directly consider the representation of knowledge, but rather, how these representations, in the form of concepts, can be related and classified.…”