Return to Saussure

Introduction For over seventy years, Alan Turing’s test for machine intelligence has stood as a landmark in artificial intelligence. Rather than ask “Can machines think?”, Turing famously sidestepped the metaphysical terrain altogether. In doing so, he wasn’t alone. Ferdinand de Saussure, in his Course in General Linguistics , likewise refused to consider the origins or essence of language, insisting instead on its relational character. These parallel gestures—one in computer science, the other in linguistics—signal a shared resistance to metaphysical speculation. Instead, both thinkers propose a rigorously defined, observable approach to their subjects, aligning with a broader positivist epistemology that shaped 20th-century thought. Turing and the Pragmatics of Intelligence In his 1950 essay “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” Turing begins by announcing the inadequacy of traditional philosophical approaches: “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’ Thi...

  Introduction This article examines the evolution of philosophy's role in relation to the natural sciences, the emergence of the Linguistic Turn , and offers a critique of its focus on symbols (concepts, mathematical formulas, etc.) from a Peircean perspective. The Linguistic Turn fundamentally redefined philosophy, emphasizing the study of language and symbols, and shifting the discipline away from empirical engagement. This approach, while deepening our understanding of conceptual relationships, risks narrowing the discipline’s scope. Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic theory, which integrates icons (resemblances), indices (causal connections), and symbols (language), offers a richer way to connect thought and reality. His analysis underscores the need for a balanced strategy that values experiential insight alongside cognitive clarity. Historical Background of Philosophy and the Natural Sciences In antiquity, philosophers like Aristotle and Plato regarded philosophy as ...