Il concetto di plastico in semiotica, fra dinamiche estesiche e plasticità del senso

Though a key concept in semiotics, plasticity has mainly been defined only in opposition to iconicity or figuration. Taking into account the archaeology of the aesthetic notion, its developments and recent advances in neurosciences and philosophy, the article reviews the historical semiotic approaches that, with significant differences, have addressed the concept, and attempts to provide an extensive definition. It also proposes a possible, and perhaps necessary, reformulation in morphodynamic terms, drawing inspiration from some of René Thom’s observations on aesthetics. With a view to overcoming the reification of the semiotic object, it emphasises how ‘ambiguity’ and perceptual and cognitive instabilities in aesthesia are relevant to a theory of sense, extending beyond a theory of meaning. A few final remarks will lead to a re-reading of some lines by Saussure concerning the plasticity of the two amorphous masses of matter and thought.