Revisiting the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: From FAPP Solutions to Contextual Ontologies
Abstract
This note presents a concise and non-polemical comparison of several major interpretations of quantum mechanics, with a particular emphasis on the distinction between FAPP-solutions ("For All Practical Purposes'') versus ontological solutions to the measurement problem. Building on this distinction, we argue that the Contexts-Systems-Modalities (CSM) framework, supplemented by the operator-algebraic description of macroscopic contexts, provides a conceptually complete, non-FAPP ontology that naturally incorporates irreversibility and the physical structure of measurement devices. This approach differs significantly from other ontological interpretations such as Bohmian mechanics, spontaneous collapse, or many-worlds, and highlights the major role of contextual quantization in shaping quantum theory.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2601.20488,
title = {Revisiting the Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics: From FAPP Solutions to Contextual Ontologies},
author = {Philippe Grangier},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.20488},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
5 pages, one table