从符号现象学考察,意义的时间本质是个复杂的问题,意义不是被构成物,它是构成,而构成必须要有时间维度。意识在面对对象时产生意义,同时意义让意识与对象互相构成。没有意义活动,也就是说,没有意识的获义意向性所产生的符号意义,时间不复存在,时间本身就是一个意义概念。首先,符号出现本身,就点明了意义之不在场;其次,意义的内涵解释项,朝向永恒的未来无限衍义。意义只能呈现为一种可能性,因此与未来同构:只有在未来的不确定中,意识才有获得这种可能的意义。
The temporal nature of meaning is a complicated problem, since meaning is notstructured, rather structuring. And any structuring takes on a time dimension. When facing the objectconsciousness yields meaning which structures both consciousness and the object. Without meaningactivities, that is, without the signs that carries the meaning acquired by the consciousness, time is nolonger existent, as time itself is the co-product of meaning. The appearance of the sign implied that themeaning is not yet actualized. The interpretant of the sign constantly extends into the future throughunlimited semiosis. Meaning can only present itself as a possibility and, therefore, sharing an identicalstructuring of time. Onlyin uncertainty of the future could consciousness capture the possibilityof meaning.