Abstract: This presentation explores the intersection between the semiotic system of Charles Sanders Peirce and Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the polyphonic novel, whose creator, according to the Russian scholar, appears to be Fyodor Dostoevsky. By combining Peirce’s triadic model of signs with Bakhtin’s concept of a plurality of independent voices within a single narrative, this study aims to reveal how Dostoevsky’s characters, each with their own distinct worldview, contribute to a lively, multileveled philosophical discourse. Peirce’s method of abduction can serve as a key analytical tool in deriving a comprehensive synthesis from Dostoevsky’s philosophy. Through the use of abduction, the paper shows how the seemingly disparate voices in Dostoevsky’s novels can be interpreted as signs of theatrical representation that signify more profound philosophical theses. The application of Peirce’s semiotics opens up the possibility of a new reading of Dostoevsky’s polyphonic structure, in which the voices of the characters interact and evolve through inter-interpretive processes in front of visible and invisible audiences.
Martin Petrushev
