The notion of sign in the context of transition from antique to medieval philosophy (based on works of St. Thomas Aquinas)

• Main Author: P. A. Sodomora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publishing House "Grani" 2015-12-01
• Series: Granì
• Subjects: знак; семіотика; сигніфікація; концепт; перцепт; дискурс; універсалії
• Online Access: https://grani.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/335

The connection of Greek and Latin period of philosophy is investigated on the material of the notion of sign. The content and essence of this notion is researched as well as the sources of semiotics as a science. The key philosophical theses on the definition of this term are considered on the basis of works of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. The profundity of the notion of sign is explained from the view of main philosophical notions. Main aspects of transition from Antique to Medieval Philosophy are enlightened in the article. The influence of previous philosophical background that was related to the formation of medieval philosophy is considered as well. Te notion of perceptivity of sign is analyzed in the article. The contrastive analysis of the notion of sign is conducted as it appears in works of St. Augustine and its followers. The analysis of upcoming definitions of sign in various medieval philosophers is made. The series of terms that is linked to the notion of sign namely analogy that appears in Aristotle’s works is considered. This question arises as a part of problem of sign in knowledge. It is established that the notion of analogy in Aristotle’s works has had different meaning than it had in Aquinas’ works. The problem of sign arises from the primary question that appears in Aquinas’ philosophy, namely the question of being as first known. It is emphasized that the notion of sign was mentioned in works of Ukrainian scholars of Kyiv Mohyla Akademy.  Certain works of modern scholars are analyzed as well.