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String theory takes quantum mechanics and tries to make it compatible with gravity. If it turns out to be a theory of everything then would it explain why our world is described by the laws of quantum mechanics?

I want to understand if the laws of quantum mechanics are the only logical possibility for a low-energy theory potentially derivable from a better understanding of string theory. The other possibility is that they are just strange laws that are discovered through experiments that can't be reached by pure theoretical reasoning.

Which of the two possibilities is more reasonable from a physics point of view and why?

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closed as not constructive by dmckee Apr 27 '13 at 14:35


Yes, quantum mechanics is the foundation of all of modern physics - condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, atomic physics, optics, molecular physics, particle physics, quantum gravity, string theory - and it is the only logically possible framework aside from classical physics (which is ruled out) that is worth mentioning. The fact that QM can't be any different has lots of aspects, see e.g. motls.blogspot.com/2013/04/… One may perhaps explain the connections of QM to other things but postulates of QM won't change again. Ever. –  Luboš Motl Apr 22 '13 at 11:04
Well , the basic assumption is that quantum states are normalizable vectors living in a hilbert space . quantum follows from the linearity and the methods of calculating probabilities .What I really ask is that if it's possible to map quantum mechanics to another theory mathematically so quantum mechanics could actually have richer structure than we know .So,Quantum mechanics could be absolutely correct but there may be a missing part of the story –  bill Apr 22 '13 at 11:19
Related: physics.stackexchange.com/q/6980/2451 and links therein. –  Qmechanic Apr 22 '13 at 11:24
I do not understand your question.Quantum Mechanics is a theory that uses least number of assumptions.By Occam's razor it should be the most consistent among other theories.If one can discover a theory with less number of assumptions than QM and prove all the things QM has proven then probably that particular theory will be acceptable. –  WInterfell Apr 22 '13 at 13:24
Conventional string theory assumes quantum mechanical axioms from the very beginning. –  Qmechanic May 6 '13 at 23:51