ICTS

This talk asks why the interpretation of quantum mechanics, in contrast to classical mechanics is still a subject of controversy, and presents a 'minimal formulation' modeled on a formulation of classical mechanics. In both cases the formulation is 'microscopic', by which we mean applicable to any closed system with an arbitrary number of degrees of freedom. Starting from the sole assumption of a 'Hilbert space ontology', it is argued that all the usual features of quantum mechanics follow essentially inevitably, thus providing the sought after minimal formulation. The so-called 'measurement problem' is briefly discussed. The usual questions and controversies over 'interpretations' of quantum mechanics can then be treated by 'macroscopic quantum mechanics' which is an application of the more general microscopic theory and not part of the foundational formulation.