奥古斯丁的 “记号论”及其现代性

Augustine's Theory of Sign and Its Modernity

本文联系古希腊哲学家对 "名称"的讨论,从奥古斯丁的相关论述入手,探讨了奥古斯丁记号论的现代涵义。奥古斯丁以前的哲学家没有专门讨论记号,只在讨论名称时曾论及记号或符号。奥古斯丁则对记号作了系统地探讨。他给记号下了定义,阐明了记号的本质,并揭示了记号的作用。奥古斯丁是西方符号学的先驱,他的 "记号论"属于语义学研究,他的观点启发了一批对现代符号学的发展起着关键作用的现代西方哲学家。

With a review of the discussions on'names'by ancient Greek philosophers and especially by Augustine,the paper explores the modern implications of Augustine's theory of sign.The philosophers before Augustine did not focus their studies on signs but mentioned them only in their discussion of names.Augustine gave a systematic study of sign and discussed its definition,nature and functions.Augustine is one of the founders of semiotics in the West and his'theory of sign'belongs to semantic studies.His views have enlightened a group of modern Western philosophers who have played a key role in the development of modern semiotics.