[bnjmn]

One of my favorite takes on this topic:

"From... elementary theories we build up descriptions of more and more complex systems. But in all these efforts we take for granted that we may use any language we wish and as many [languages] as necessary. That is, we choose whatever mathematical formalism is most useful and then interpret the symbols and measurement operations in very highly developed natural language. To a large degree, the simplicity of natural laws arises through the complexities of the languages we use for their expression."

– H. H. Pattee

[mr_overalls]

I did an undergrad in physics decades ago, and it pleases me to no end to see that someone else has made this observation. Especially when dealing with quantum weirdness, the advice of professors to focus "follow the math" always seem to gloss over the extensive interpretation (Copenhagen and otherwise) that gave context and meaning to the math & experimental results.

[guygurari]

In my experience, the reason to “follow the math” is that it is the best and perhaps only way to truly understand a physical theory, especially one as strange as quantum mechanics. One can understand the math first, and then develop an understanding of the context and meaning. But this abstract understanding is anchored in math. This is important because when the meaning gets too obscure, one can return to the math to resolve any confusion. The other way around does not work.

[scythe]

The mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics is (believed to be) central in the network of facts about quantum mechanics, if we draw an edge between two facts when one helps you understand another. Therefore, it makes more sense to learn the formalism first and use it to help you understand the data, predictions and interpretations, rather than the reverse.

[marcosdumay]

The point of follow the math is that on this specific case, the only valid interpretation is the trivial ones that map your numbers into your observations.

The possible explanations for the weirdness are all speculation about how to solve a very important problem. But they neither valid interpretations (because they don't explain anything anybody can see) nor about Quantum Mechanics (they are about an open problem of physics, not about the theory the teacher is explaining).

It is important to speculate on how one can solve problems. That's where solutions come from. But this is not the same thing as interpreting results.