Abstract: Numerous studies across a variety of disciplines have discussed the concept of “noise” from diverse perspectives. The three universal modes of being of C.S. Peirce’s phenomenology – Firstness, Secondness and Thirdness – provide a distinctive approach to studying noise. Inspired by Peirce, this paper shows that noise is represented as fact by virtue of its laws, which conceals its true essence; namely, the Thirdness of being. Compared with other studies that treat noise’s emergence (Firstness) by virtue of its effect (Secondness), this semiotic study of noise transfers the focus from Secondness to Thirdness, exploring the human cultural features it represents.
Keywords: Noise, semiotics, C.S. Peirce, Thirdness