Percy, I think, would bring into play the Peircean categories of
Secondness (a binary sign system, which Deep Blue arguably possesses) and
Thirdness (a three-way structure of understanding with an essential human
in the loop: Kasparov). In a limited and highly structured logical system
such as chess (despite its many possibilities), Secondness might be more
semitotically efficient than Thirdness. But Secondness can never acquire
Thirdness, as I understand thing. There are probably people on this list
who can articulate this much better than I, and I invite them in.
Amateurishly,
Marcus Smith
Department of English
Loyola University
New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
Office: 504-865-2481; Fax 504-866-1966