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    Confusing the rule that any sign can generate an interpre... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Infinite chains of signs are conceptually necessary in Peirce's early account of signs.

    Confusing the rule that any sign can generate an interpretant with the claim that infinitely many interpretants must exist commits a modal fallacy.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Possibility (can generate) differs logically from actuality (must generate infinitely many). Conflating modal operators is a standard logical fallacy.
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    • 2.Peirce's semiotic theory allows finite interpretant chains in practice. The rule permits infinity without requiring it, avoiding modal confusion.
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    • 3.Distinguishing 'can' from 'must' preserves the theory's consistency with observable communication, which terminates in finite contexts.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.The modal distinction may be artificial here: if signs inherently generate interpretants iteratively, the practical outcome approaches infinity regardless of modality.
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    • 2.Peirce's actual texts suggest interpretants propagate without natural stopping points, making 'possible infinity' functionally equivalent to required infinity.
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    • 3.Naming this a 'modal fallacy' assumes modal logic applies to semiosis, but Peirce's framework may operate outside standard logical categories.
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    Related

    Distinguishing 'can' from 'must' preserves the theory's consistency with observa...Infinite chains of signs are conceptually necessary in Peirce's early account of...Naming this a 'modal fallacy' assumes modal logic applies to semiosis, but Peirc...Peirce's actual texts suggest interpretants propagate without natural stopping p...
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    Peirce's semiotic theory allows finite interpretant chains in practice. The rule...Possibility (can generate) differs logically from actuality (must generate infin...The modal distinction may be artificial here: if signs inherently generate inter...

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