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AGPhil: Arbeitsgruppe Philosophie der Physik

AGPhil 10: Foundations of Quantum Mechanics II

AGPhil 10.2: Talk

Thursday, March 13, 2025, 17:30–18:00, HS XVII

The Quantum Landscape: a Status Report — •Marc Holman — Utrecht University

Regardless of one’s sentiments about the strength of various arguments to modify (aspects of) the mathematical structure of quantum theory, it must be acknowledged that this structure could simply turn out empirically inadequate at some point. Yet, in sharp contrast to the situation with our other highly successful fundamental theory in physics, viz. general relativity - for which the same basic verdict of course applies and for which countless alternative theories have been developed over the years - alternatives to quantum theory have been very little explored and at any rate seem out of vogue. After briefly reviewing underlying reasons for this situation (which can be traced, at least in part, to different views on general relativity as a physical theory), I discuss some recent proposals, motivated by quantum field theory and cosmology, to modify the standard quantum formalism, and conclude with a rough sketch of the landscape of alternatives to quantum theory - i.e., the “quantum landscape”.

Keywords: quantum landscape; beyond quantum theory; cosmology; field theories