Ľudmila BennettPalacký University, Olomouc, CzechiaTitle: Folding as semiotic modelingKey words: biosemiotics, protein folding, interpretation, intelligenceAbstract: This paper delves into the intricate interplay between folding and semiotics, serving as a meta-commentary on Howard Pattee's discourse in response to Terrence Deacon's work titled "Symbol Grounding Precedes Interpretation" (2021) and further elaborated in 2023. Framed within a context of recursive self-reflection, the paper scrutinizes the concept of folding as a fundamental semiotic activity, drawing connections to Pattee's proposition regarding protein folding as a precursor to semiosis and interpretation. Central to this discourse is the assertion that folding serves not only as a foundational prerequisite for semiosis but also as a potent modeling system. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the paper elucidates how folding manifests as a modeling mechanism across diverse domains from biology to syntax. Notably, the paper underscores the burgeoning application of folding principles in AI.References:Lacková, Ľ. (2020): Folding of a Peptide Continuum. Semiotic Approach to Protein Folding. Semiotica 2020 (233), pp- 79-90, 10.1515/sem-2018-0116.Lacková Ľ. (2018): A Linguistic Approach to Protein Folding. Towards a Semiotic Description of Living Systems. PhD dissertation, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech RepublicPattee, H. H. (2023): Symbol Grounding by Folding: The Primary Biosemiosis. Open Semiotics n. pag. Print.Pattee, H.H. (2021). Symbol Grounding Precedes Interpretation. Biosemiotics 14, 561–568