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.

Non-classical properties of quantum mechanics

 * nonseparability


 * See also: entangled


 * Nonlocality
 * Superposition of states
 * See also: Schrödinger's cat

Quantum phenomena

 * 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

 * hidden variables
 * ensemble

Terms used in the formalism of quantum mechanics

 * Born's rule
 * collapse postulate
 * measurement
 * relative state
 * decoherent histories

Metaphysics

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

Interpretations of quantum mechanics
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

 * 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
Early researchers (before the 1950s):
 * Max Born
 * Albert Einstein
 * Niels Bohr
 * J. S. Bell
 * Hugh Everett III
 * David Bohm

1950s–2010s:
 * Roland Omnès
 * W. H. Zurek
 * Erich Joos
 * Max Tegmark
 * Maximilian Schlosshauer
 * H. D. Zeh
 * David Deutsch
 * Robert B. Griffiths
 * Bernard d'Espagnat
 * Carl von Weizsäcker

2000s or later:
 * Bob Coecke
 * Robert Spekkens