Quantum theory is “strange”. While physics usually aims to describe the world and to dissolve its strangeness, or at least to familiarize ourselves with it, quantum theory seems desperately silent when it comes to extract meaning from its equations, even though its mathematical grounds have been fixed almost a century ago. As pointed out by David Mermin, “Quantum theory is the most useful and powerful theory physicists have ever devised. Yet today, […] disagreement about the meaning of the theory is stronger than ever. New interpretations appear every day. None ever disappear.” This is where quantum metaphysics – what comes after/beyond quantum theory — comes into play.
This talk aims to provide you with an up-to-date exploration of this sprawling “map,” to equip you with essential tools to navigate the landscape of meta-quantum proposition and delineate its boundaries. I will give a brief presentation of the current mainstream “realist interpretations” (de-Broglie-Bohm, Collapse theories, Many-Worlds), with an emphasis on what metaphysical criteria play (or not) in their favour. I will then introduce the “neo-Copenhagen interpretations” (QBism, Relational quantum mechanics) by arguing that they all share a common feature based on analysing the celebrated quantum measurement problem as a self-referential paradox. Finally, I will explore contemporary alternatives to the traditional interpretation program, focusing on information-theoretic reconstructions and meta-quantum frameworks.