DOI 10.1515/css-2015-0017  Chinese Semiotic Studies 11(3): 329-346 Torkild Thellefsen*, Bent Sørensen, and Martin Thellefsen Dynamics of the Collateral Encyclopedia Abstract: Both Umberto Eco and Charles S. Peirce have been concerned with the notion of background knowledge. Eco refers to background knowledge as the encyclopedia; Peirce’s term of reference is collateral experience. The aim of this article is to investigate the degree to which these two concepts are comparable. We focus on one major metaphysical issue, viz. the fact that Eco defines collateral experience, which is the first step in any process of cognition, as private, whereas Peirce, as a realist, would never accept the concept of private thoughts, feelings, etc. We suggest that freeing collateral experience from its nominalistic nomenclature makes possible a comparison and synthesis of Eco’s and Peirce’s conceptions when seen from the perspectives of their cognitive type, nuclear type, and molar content. Keywords: Charles S. Peirce; cognitive type; collateral experience; molar content; nuclear type; Umberto Eco  *Corresponding author, Torkild Thellefsen: Royal School of Information and Library science, Copenhagen University, Email: Pxd739@hum.ku.dk Bent Sørensen: Independent Scholar, Master of Arts and Humanities, Email: legisign@gmail.com Martin Thellefsen: Royal School of Information and Library Science, Copenhagen University, Email: cpx896@hum.ku.dk Symbols grow. They come into being by development out of other signs, particularly from icons, or from mixed signs partaking of the nature of icons and symbols. We think only in signs. These mental signs are of mixed nature; the symbol-parts of them are called concepts. If a man makes a new symbol, it is by thoughts involving concepts. So it is only out of symbols that a new symbol can grow. Omne symbolum de symbolo. A symbol, once in being, spreads among the peoples. In use and in experience, its meaning grows. (CP 2.203) 1 Introduction Both Charles S. Peirce and Umberto Eco have developed concepts that describe the notion of background knowledge that is used in signification and communication. Peirce named this concept collateral experience and Eco calls it e Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek) - National Library of Denmark / Copenhagen University Library Authenticated Download Date | 2/19/20 11:23 AM