Phenosemantic Theory – English Summary

Phenosemantics (PSM) – English summary

Phenosemantics treats fictional texts as zones of condensed meaning where under certain discursive conditions configurations may emerge phenomenologically. The central unit of this theory is the phenoseme: a localized configuration within a text that exhibits maximal semantic compression and an internal tension gradient. When the density of meaning enters a critical interval, latent dispositions press into the realm of appearance. PSM emphasises that fiction is not representation but a productive overflow of meaning into perception and action. Its three axioms are: (1) meaning remains open and never fully determined; (2) the world is not a closed system; and (3) fiction marks the point where meaning exceeds its support and touches appearances. The theory develops a methodological apparatus involving definitions of density, resonance and contamination, as well as protocols such as baselines, blind cluster tests and time windows to detect external coincidences and resonant patterns. PSM serves as a procedural framework for identifying and testing phenosemes rather than explaining them away, acknowledging that activations can have real-world effects while demanding rigorous ethical safeguards for participants.