Abstract

Adopting a critical stance towards the semiotic concept of the individual, we illustrate Greimas’ view, centred on the topological structure of the actor, and propose a dialogue between his conception and one derived by Canguilhem’s epistemological analyses. The individual will be linked to a normative capacity, allowing for a discussion on how norms shape its transformations not only from without – as environmental pressures –, but also from within – being produced by the individual. We argue that a psycho-semiotic approach could benefit from this comparison in its understanding and dealing of normal and pathological states, entwined with the problem of individuality.