MEANING (Meaning of)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 2039 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics |
D. Mac KAY states: “A distinction should be carefully made between the notion of meaning to the receiver… and the notion of intended meaning (by the transmitter) and generally accepted meaning.” (1969, p.72).
- Intended meaning is the meaning which the transmitter tries to convey to the receiver or receivers. It depends on the level and soundness of knowledge and intentions of the transmitter.
- Generally accepted meaning is that which is accepted by consensus by a majority of the concerned people (irrespective from its intrinsic factual truth or falsity, while it is generally presented as “truth”).
- Meaning to the receiver is what the receiver understand from the message received as it evokes in him a complex background of former reactions and knowledge.
The receivers views may or not coincide 1) with the transmitters interpretation; 2) with the common consensus and the generally admitted “truth”.