Order of Discourse and Responsibility

To Answer forself; To Answer for the Other

Zitiervorschlag: Susan Petrilli / Augusto Ponzio, Order of Discourse and Responsibility, in: Jusletter IT 2

The problem of the «order of discourse» concerns both exterior and interior discourse. In this paper it is considered from a «semiodialogic» perspective, where logic and semiotics intersect. Semiosis and argumentation are interconnected dialogic behaviors. The common denominator is «interpretation» understood not only in terms of identification, but also of «answering comprehension». This implies that in human semiosis to interpret is also to respond dialogically, take a stand, account to, and account for, which involves values, habits, norms, stereotypes, and ideologies. The «order of discourse» is connected to power and ideology. Logic converges with the ideo-logic of a given social system and of the individual who is part of that system. The study of ideology and the problem of individual moral and legal responsibility should be dealt with from a semiotic perspective given that social planning, programmes, ideologies, individual verbal and non-verbal behaviors are all made of signs. Social reproduction in general is made of signs, verbal and non-verbal. The subject redefined in semiotic terms has pivotal implications for the question of moral and legal responsibility. From a semiotic perspective «to answer for self» clearly will not suffice. To answer for self is always to answer not only to the other but also for the other, «to answer for the other.»

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