The Copenhagen Interpretation Of Quantum Theory Through Systemic Functional Linguistics [3]

Gribbin (1990: 175):

In his first exposition of what became known as the Copenhagen interpretation, back in 1927, Bohr stressed the contrast between descriptions of the world in terms of pure space-time coordination and absolute causality, and the quantum picture, where the observer interferes with and is a part of the system that is being observed.  Coordinates in space-time represent position; causality depends on knowing precisely where things are going, essentially on knowing their momentum.  Classical theories assume that you can know both at once; quantum mechanics shows us that precision in space-time co-ordinates has to be paid for in terms of uncertainty of momentum, and therefore causality.

Blogger Comment:

From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic theory, both descriptions of the world in terms of pure space-time coordination and absolute causality, and the quantum picture, are each construals of experience as meaning.  The observer is part of the system in the sense that it is the observer that construes the experience as meaning.  To know the position and momentum of particles is to have construed experience as meaning.  Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: x):

… “understanding” something is transforming it into meaning, and to “know” is to have performed that transformation.