Abstract：Peirce’s notion of “interpretant” has important cognitive semiotic value. This notion has shed light on the dynamic relationship among objects, signs and minds. It can explain “meaningful” cognitive activities. It is subject to a priori signs, but can endow a priori signs with a posteriori new empirical meanings in an alternative semiotic mode within social contexts. In the process of cognition of an object, “interpretant” plays the role of “extending mind”. “Interpretant” provides a principle to decode the law of cognitive change; and on contrast, it is by explaining the law of cognitive change in current society that Peirce’s semiotic thinking will be developed further. This paper begins with the transforming character of a priori and a posteriori propositions and moves on to the investigation of knowledge transference that is problematic in semiotic cognition. We can affirm that synthetic propositions have largely been transformed to analytic ones if we face the current issue that knowledge transmission is being heightened in speed and extended in scope, and consequently, think of cognition as being extended constantly in society. In conclusion, cognition has to be incessantly extended when the state of affairs of society is concerned.
Key words: Peirce; interpretant; meaningful; the extended mind
