Realism about the Wave Function

TL;DR

This paper reviews various realist interpretations of the wave function in quantum mechanics, aiming to clarify its physical meaning and implications for understanding quantum reality.

Contribution

It categorizes and compares three main realist interpretations of the wave function within non-relativistic quantum mechanics.

Findings

Ontological, nomological, and sui generis interpretations analyzed

Comparison clarifies differences and similarities among interpretations

Enhances understanding of quantum realism and the wave function's role

Abstract

A century after the discovery of quantum mechanics, the meaning of quantum mechanics still remains elusive. This is largely due to the puzzling nature of the wave function, the central object in quantum mechanics. If we are realists about quantum mechanics, how should we understand the wave function? What does it represent? What is its physical meaning? Answering these questions would improve our understanding of what it means to be a realist about quantum mechanics. In this survey article, I review and compare several realist interpretations of the wave function. They fall into three categories: ontological interpretations, nomological interpretations, and the \emph{sui generis} interpretation. For simplicity, I will focus on non-relativistic quantum mechanics.