Semiotics

Semiotics, as explained in the video above, is "the study of signs and symbols. It's a branch of philosophy related to linguistics." This video is a scene from the hit american series 'The Big Bang Theory'. We can see Sheldon Cooper, a genius theoretical physicist, asking his supposedly  not-so-smart neighbor for help, since he is incapable of understanding the meaning of a tie on the doorknob. It's ironic because someone as intelligent as him cannot comprehend things that are commonly understood by the rest of the world. I find it amusing how this series takes scientific terms and meanings and explain them in a funny and simple way.


On a more serious note though, humans as a species are designed to search for signs and their meanings, As Peirce once said "we think only in signs". (Peirce 1931-58, 2.302)  Signs can be anything from words, images, sounds, flavors, smells or objects. They only become signs though, when we give them a special meaning. According to Peirce 'Nothing is a sign unless it is interpreted as a sign'.(Peirce 1931-58, 2.172) For example the tie on the doorknob, as described in the video above',  is commonly known as a sign that an individual doesn't want to be disturbed, probably because they are engaging in a sexual act.


References :


 Peirce, Charles Sanders (1931-58): Collected Writings (8 Vols.). (Ed. Charles Hartshorne, Paul Weiss & Arthur W Burks). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press


The Big Bang Theory , Season 1, Episode: "The Hamburger Postulate"