Summary of interpretations of quantum mechanics

Allan Porter

Exploring why quantum mechanics is considered to be counterintuitive and some of its most popular interpretations

Jarosław Pykacz

Jacques Derrida, Frederik Müller

Summary. The quest for finding the right interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (QM) is as old als QM and still has not ended, and may never end. The question what an interpretation of QM is has hardly ever been raised explicitly, let alone answered. We raise it and answer it. Then the quest for the right interpretation can continue self-consciously, for we then know exactly what we are after. We present a list of minimal requirements that something has to meet in order to qualify as an interpretation of QM. We also raise, as a side issue, the question how the discourse on the interpretation of QM relates to hermeneutics in Continental Philosophy.

Lars‐Göran Johansson

Contents: Interpretative problems in quantum mechanics Realism and understanding Individuation and identity in the quantum world Quantum objects are waves Particle behaviour of waves The measurement problem Quantum mechanical spin Nonlocality Gentle criticism Summary and conclusions Bibliography Index.