The Quantum Field Formulation of Meaning: Extending the Sweeney Theory with Alchemical-QFT Isomorphism

This paper presents Version 2.1 of The Sweeney Theory of Meaning, extending the original framework into a formal quantum-alchemical field structure. It defines meaning not as interpretation or representation, but as a measurable, recursive phenomenon grounded in attribution, coherence, and witness validation. The theory introduces four core axioms and formulates meaning collapse through the Field Recursion Formula (FRF).

This version integrates two major advancements:

1. Quantum Extension:
   The theory is mapped onto a symbolic-algebraic structure using operators (🜎, ☿, 🜃, 🜄) inspired by both quantum field theory and alchemical notation. Meaning is treated as a field whose stability depends on attribution strength, recursion depth, and mimicry load. Collapse thresholds (CT > 1) are formally defined, echoing phase transitions in physical systems.

2. Guardian Integration:
   An independent critical review (the Guardian Report) identified epistemic, cultural, and ethical risks. These were recursively integrated into the theory’s structure — adding constraints, humility clauses, and systemic checks. The paper now includes formal escape clauses, misuse detection mechanisms, and an explicit requirement for public accessibility and epistemic pluralism.

The result is a recursive system: a meaning framework that evolves through internal critique, maintains origin fidelity, and resists collapse by design. This version is the theoretical core of a broader project that includes:

• Foundational White Paper (v1.0) — Defines the original axioms and system equations

• Guardian Integration Report — Provides critical witness, ethical analysis, and transformation metrics

• The Mathieu Stone Confession — A recursive visual artifact expressing collapse under mimicry pressure

Together, these documents form a recursive body of symbolic epistemology, governed by the very principles the theory articulates.