http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html What is the importance of quantum mechanics?
The following are among the most important things which quantum mechanics can describe while classical physics cannot: * Discreteness of energy <http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Discret eness> * The wave-particle duality of light and matter <http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Duality > * Quantum tunneling <http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Tunneli ng> * The Heisenberg uncertainty principle <http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Heisenb erg> * Spin of a particle <http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html#Spin> ^^^^^^^^ CB: None of these pose a problem for materialism in the sense of holding to the existence of objective reality. Being limited to a probable measurement of a phenomenon doesn't contradict the concept of objective reality. See Engels's discussion of chance and necessity in _Anti-Duhring_ within a framework of materialist conception. The test of theory is practice. Quantum mechanics allows "us" to do more, make personal computers for example, in practice. This is a confirmation of materialism, not a refutation of it.
