Symbolic Function

The purpose here is to restore and reaffirm one in psychology rather neglected notion: the symbolic function. Discussed are the problems of criteria for distinguishing semiotic and non-semiotic phenomena: for example, how to distinguish systems of communication between animals and humans, how to determine when in anthropogenesis appears a human species that possesses a symbolic function or from which stage the ability to use symbols appears during ontogenesis. A large number of possible criteria and their interrelationships were analyzed. Based on the selected criteria, a definition of the symbolic function was given at three levels: (a) as the ability to create and use individual symbols, (b) as the ability to create and use symbolic systems and perform semiotic operations and (c) as the ability to create internal (thought mediated by semiotic means, awareness, self-awareness) and external symbolic (virtual) reality. Emphasized is the key importance of the appearance of the symbolic function for the entire psychological human development in both phylogeny and ontogeny where it appears as a bridge between biology and history (biological evolution creates a brain that can create symbols, where culture and history are created with the help of symbols). Discussed are the types of semiotic systems according to their formal characteristics, origin and function (social and individual), and to their role in psychological development.