Grice on representation

We might we well advised to consider more closely the nature of representation and its connection with meaning, and to do so in the light of three perhaps not implausible suppositions.

(1) that representation by means of verbal formulation is an artificial and noniconic mode of representation.

(2) that to replace an iconic system by a noniconic system will be to introduce a new and more powerful extension of the original system, one which can do everything the former system can do and more besides.

(3) that every artificial  or noniconic system is based on an antecedent NATURAL iconic system.

Descriptive representation must look back to and in part do the work of prior iconic representation.

That work will consist in the representation of objects and situations in the world in something like the way in which a team of North Oxfordshire cricketers may represent, say North Oxfordshire.

The cricketers do on behalf of North Oxfordshire something that North Oxfordshire cannot do for itself, namely engage in a game of cricket.

Similarly, our representations (initially iconic but also noniconic) enable objects and situations in the world to do something which objects and situations cannot do for themselves, namely govern our actions and behaviour."