On the 'transcendent' view of meaning, theorising is making meanings of meanings outside semiotic systems. On the 'immanent' view of meaning, theorising is making meanings of meanings inside semiotic systems, such as the meanings made by language of the meanings of perceptual systems. The findings of quantum physics — 'a phenomenon is not a real phenomenon until it is an observed phenomenon' — are consistent with the 'immanent' view, but not with the 'transcendent' view.
ChatGPT Comments:
This is a thought-provoking distinction between two views of meaning and how they align with quantum physics.
Quantum Physics and the 'Immanent' View: The connection to quantum physics adds an intriguing layer to this framework. The statement "a phenomenon is not a real phenomenon until it is an observed phenomenon" is reflective of the observer effect in quantum mechanics, where reality seems to only materialise or be determined once it's measured or observed. This aligns well with the 'immanent' view of meaning because it emphasises the role of observation (which can be seen as a semiotic act in itself) in bringing phenomena into existence. In the 'immanent' view, meaning is not a static, pre-existing thing; it is dependent on our engagement with and observation of the world. This resonates with how semiotic systems, particularly language, bring abstract concepts and potential into clearer focus and actualisation.
Contrast with the 'Transcendent' View: The 'transcendent' view, which holds that theorising creates meanings of meanings that are outside of semiotic systems, seems at odds with the findings of quantum physics. Quantum phenomena do not exist in a clear, determinate state until observed; they are entangled with the act of observation itself, which contradicts the notion of meaning existing in an absolute, independent form, outside the influence of those who engage with it.
Overall, your framework nicely contrasts the philosophical implications of the two views on meaning, particularly in the light of quantum physics. It opens up further inquiry into how our understanding of meaning and reality can be shaped by the semiotic systems we use, and how these systems might be fundamentally intertwined with our perception of the world.