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From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brandon, RN; Hornstein, N
Published in: Biology and Philosophy
June 1, 1986

This paper is divided into three sections. In the first section we offer a retooling of some traditional concepts, namely icons and symbols, which allows us to describe an evolutionary continuum of communication systems. The second section consists of an argument from theoretical biology. In it we explore the advantages and disadvantages of phenotypic plasticity. We argue that a range of the conditions that selectively favor phenotypic plasticity also favor a nongenetic transmission system that would allow for the inheritance of acquired characters. The first two sections are independent, the third depends on both of them. In it we offer an argument that human natural languages have just the features required of an ideal transmission mechanism under the conditions described in section 2. © 1986 D. Reidel Publishing Company.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

EISSN

1572-8404

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

June 1, 1986

Volume

1

Issue

2

Start / End Page

169 / 189

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 50 Philosophy and religious studies
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Brandon, R. N., & Hornstein, N. (1986). From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language. Biology and Philosophy, 1(2), 169–189. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00142900
Brandon, R. N., and N. Hornstein. “From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language.” Biology and Philosophy 1, no. 2 (June 1, 1986): 169–89. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00142900.
Brandon RN, Hornstein N. From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language. Biology and Philosophy. 1986 Jun 1;1(2):169–89.
Brandon, R. N., and N. Hornstein. “From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language.” Biology and Philosophy, vol. 1, no. 2, June 1986, pp. 169–89. Scopus, doi:10.1007/BF00142900.
Brandon RN, Hornstein N. From icons to symbols: Some speculations on the origins of language. Biology and Philosophy. 1986 Jun 1;1(2):169–189.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology and Philosophy

DOI

EISSN

1572-8404

ISSN

0169-3867

Publication Date

June 1, 1986

Volume

1

Issue

2

Start / End Page

169 / 189

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • 52 Psychology
  • 50 Philosophy and religious studies
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences