Introduction to Biosemiotics: The New Biological Synthesis - Hardcover

From the reviews:

“Biosemiotics is the study of semiotic phenomena in animals, and eventually in all living creatures. ... Each chapter is self-contained; however, the editor has done a remarkable job of maintaining continuity and flow. ... Each contains its own extensive collection of references. The fine index will assist many readers in locating related material from the individually written chapters. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and above.” (J. Beidler, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (10), June, 2007)

Combining research approaches from biology, philosophy and linguistics, the field of Biosemiotics proposes that animals, plants and single cells all engage in semiosis – the conversion of objective signals into conventional signs. This has important implications and applications for issues ranging from natural selection to animal behavior and human psychology, leaving biosemiotics at the cutting edge of the research on the fundamentals of life.

Drawing on an international expertise, the book details the history and study of biosemiotics, and provides a state-of-the-art summary of the current work in this new field. And, with relevance to a wide range of disciplines – from linguistics and semiotics to evolutionary phenomena and the philosophy of biology – the book provides an important text for both students and established researchers, while marking a vital step in the evolution of a new biological paradigm.