Outline of an Uexküllian bio-ontology
Sign Systems Studies December 21, 2021 Morten Tønnessen 5 citations
Western ontology has traditionally focused only on human experience. This paper argues that a biocentric ontology can be built on Uexküll's Umwelt theory, which expands the study of experience beyond humans. Drawing on Thomas Nagel, the author suggests that some lifeforms may be entirely unimaginable to us, and this view is compatible with Umwelt theory. The paper advocates for a biosemiotic possibilism, urging that claims about universal characteristics of living beings be avoided; instead, statements should be limited to life as we know it.