The Epistemological Lesson Of Quantum Physics Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Edelman (1992: 160):

What can we say constructively about science and about the possibility of a theory of knowledge based on biology — a biologically based epistemology? 

To construct a reasonable account, we must recognise that modern particle physics and field theory have eliminated the notion of the world as a deterministic or clockwork mechanism. This does not mean that mechanisms cannot be described or be useful (as they are to both macroscopic physics and biology). It means simply that the universe cannot be sensibly considered at all scales in such terms.

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From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory, the world that is modelled (reconstrued) by particle physics and field theory is meaning construed of experience in language.  As explained earlier on this blog, what quantum theory actually demonstrates is that the construal of experience as meaning (e.g. as an electron) is itself probabilistic, rather than a deterministic mechanism.

For example, as previously explained, wave-particle duality can be understood as 'potential-instance duality', with the wave perspective accounting for the potential — measured as probability — of construing experience as a photon, and the particle perspective accounting for actual instances — measured as statistics — of construing experience as a photon.

Similarly, field theory identifies the extent of space-time to which these varying probabilities of being instantiated apply.