Glossary of quantum philosophy

This is a glossary for the terminology applied in the foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum metaphysics, collectively called quantum philosophy, a subfield of philosophy of physics.

Note that this is a highly debated field, hence different researchers may have different definitions on the terms.

Physics

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Non-classical properties of quantum mechanics

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nonseparability
See also: entangled
Nonlocality
Superposition of states
See also: Schrödinger's cat

Quantum phenomena

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decoherence
uncertainty principle
See also: Einstein and the quantum
entanglement
See also: Bell's theorem, EPR paradox and CHSH inequality
quantum teleportation
superselection rule
quantum erasure
delayed choice experiment
Quantum Zeno effect
premeasurement
ideal measurement

Suggested physical entities

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hidden variables
ensemble

Terms used in the formalism of quantum mechanics

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Born's rule
collapse postulate
measurement
relative state
decoherent histories

Metaphysics

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objective and subjective
ontic and epistemic
intrinsic and extrinsic
agnostic
Philosophical realism
determinism
causality
empiricism
rationalism
scientific realism
psychophysical parallelism

Interpretations of quantum mechanics

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List of interpretations:

Bohmian Mechanics
de Broglie–Bohm theory
consistent histories
Copenhagen interpretation
conventional interpretation
Usually refer to the Copenhagen interpretation.
Ensemble Interpretation
Everett interpretation
See relative-state interpretation.
hydrodynamic interpretation
Ghirardi–Rimini–Weber theory (GRW theory / GRW effect)
many-worlds interpretation
many-minds interpretation
many-measurements interpretation
modal interpretations
objective collapse theory
orthodox interpretation
Usually refer to the Copenhagen interpretation.
Penrose interpretation
Pilot wave
Quantum logic
relative-state interpretation
relational quantum mechanics
stochastic interpretation
transactional interpretation

Uncategorized items

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quantum Darwinism
completeness
relativistic measurement theory
consciousness and observer role
quantum correlation
quantum indeterminism
stochastic collapse
pointer state
quantum causality
postselection
entropy
quantum cosmology

People

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Early researchers (before the 1950s):

1950s–2010s:

2000s or later:

See also

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Further reading

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  • Schlosshauer, Maximilian (2007). Decoherence and the Quantum-to-Classical Transition (1st ed.). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer.
  • d'Espagnat, Bernard (2003). Veiled Reality: An Analysis of Quantum Mechanical Concepts (1st ed.). US: Westview Press.
  • d'Espagnat, Bernard (2006). On Physics and Philosophy (1st ed.). US: Princeton Univ. Press.
  • Greenberger, Daniel; Hentschel, Klaus; Weinert, Friedel, eds. (2009). Compendium of Quantum Physics: Concepts, Experiments, History and Philosophy (1st ed.). Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-70622-9.
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