Word sense

Meaning is the semantic content of a linguistic expression, for example. In the semantic sense is a fundamental concept, which seeks to clarify the relationship of language, thought and reality. Making sense refers to the ability of the brain to filter perceptions beneficial to think and to reason.

Uses of words

, Meaning ' is ever used in a variety of different theories, but always in relation to the communicative understanding. Known examples are:

• , Meaning ' as synonymous with meaning
• , Meaning ' (now intension ) as the antonym of reference ( in Gottlob Frege, the reference, however, as, meaning' called ).
• , Meaning ' is in linguistics rezipiert ( cf. John Lyons ) where it describes the importance of a word in relation to words that are semantically similar to it.
• Similar, meaning ' as Rudolf Carnap intension
• The common sense ( common sense ) refers to generally accepted views.

Philosophical explanations

Aristotle

The integrative function of the human mind was first described by Aristotle and as sensus communis introduced into science ( de anima III / 2).

The detection of motion, number, size, and causal contexts, according to Aristotle, not performance of the individual senses, but a common sense ( sensus communis).

Luhmann

A modern " systems theory " viewing this sense the whole is represented by Niklas Luhmann, communication, understood as the essence of the Company and the " sense " concept BUT RECOGNIZED an important position. He defined " sense is ongoing updating of possibilities." Fundamentally, his main work Social Systems. Luhmann's concept of a system is based on a functional relationship, which holds by definition of the environment itself in a state of stable order. A system must therefore primarily be able to actively produce and design of special boundaries. Psychological and social systems are constituted for Luhmann contexts. The concept of meaning includes any order form of human, conscious experience; therefore, there is no meaningless experience. The world is much too complex to be perfectly captured by a system. Therefore, according to Luhmann, the engineered " picture" of the world is always a simplification, a reduction of the infinite complexity to a manageable size. In place of the outer world complexity, the system "man" created an internal order. This happening sees Luhmann as meaning education. The complexity gradient is the meaning system in the form of a subjective world design, which reduces the external world, balanced. The system interprets the world, thus selectively reducing the complexity of the access level it out. This enables structured ways of one's own experience and action. Sense always occurs in identifiable contexts and points at the same time on the relationship, which he belongs, out; he makes other possibilities can be foreseen and precisely therein lies, according to Luhmann, the function of the formation of meaning. Sense is in Luhmann's view, " the unity of the difference of actuality and potentiality ." Communication always constituted sense, is current selection from the potentiality of all previously given possibilities. Sense regulated by Luhmann selective processing experience, is the selective relationship between the system and the world. Sense allows simultaneous reduction and conservation of complexity. Sense can therefore be understood as a premise event processing. Sense enables the awareness a choice and refers on selected on the Non Selected and thus on the immensity of the world. Communication can be no transfer of meaning or information after this terminology, but communication is common sense update of informing at least one of the participants. The central importance of semantics consists of Niklas Luhmann in the premises worth preserving meaning within a social system.

Weick

The American psychologist Karl E. Weick organization called sense as the result of a social process, he ( engl. generate sense ) Sense Making calls. In this view, meaning is a psychological construct that arises in the process of sense making activities and will be changed.