Subjectivity and identity: semiotics as psychological explanations

Semiotic theorists including Umberto Eco have recently sought to found epistemology on a cognitive interpretation of sign-usage. Other psychological models of ‘identity ’ and/or ‘subjectivity ’ or of individual ‘subjects ’ have also been re-interpreted in general semiotic terms. It is argued that these analyses are frequently reductionist, circular, or merely re-describe the psychological phenomena in question. Many Cultural Studies texts seem to equate subjects with individual persons and so retreat to a vulgar empirical level of psychological analysis. To avoid such naṏve pseudo-theorising and pseudo-explanation, it is suggested that carefully formulated distinctions be made between different uses of the terms ‘identity’, ‘subject’, ‘subjectivity ’ and the Lacanian concept of what might be called ‘subject-hood ’ or ‘subject-ness-in–general’. The relationships among Semiotics and more established, hermeneutic and social science disciplines remain ill-de ned and are frequently antagonistic. This is despite works such as Eco’s (1999) recent excursion into analytical philosophy and various forays into psycho-analysis (following Lacan), as well as recent re-theorisations of questions once the sole province of empirical Psychology (such as questions o