Communication and representation understood as sender-receiver coordination

Modeling work by Brian Skyrms and others in recent years has transformed the theoretical role of David Lewis's 1969 model of signaling. The latter can now be understood as a minimal model of communication in all its forms. In this article, we explain how the Lewis model has been generalized, and consider how it and its variants contribute to ongoing debates in several areas. Specifically, we consider connections between the models and four topics: The role of common interest in communication, signaling within the organism, meaning, and the evolution of human communication and language.

Automated summary

In recent years, modeling work by Brian Skyrms and others has redefined the theoretical role of David Lewis's 1969 model of signaling, now seen as a minimal model of communication in all its forms. This study explores how the Lewis model and its variants contribute to ongoing debates in several areas, specifically examining the connections with common interest in communication, signaling within the organism, meaning, and the evolution of human communication and language.