theory
System of ideas
A theory is an idea that is proposed to explain something.
A theory can be very simple (My theory is that she decided to leave him a long time ago) or extremely complex—like the theory of quantum mechanics.
In science, researchers propose a theory and then devise experiments that will prove the theory is correct (that it explains the phenomenon), incorrect (fails to explain what happens experimentally), or occasionally incomplete (explains some aspects satisfactorily, but not others).
Guess from limited facts
- postulateAssumed starting point
- suppositionBelief without proof
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
assumption · premise · inference · speculation · hunch · intuition · guesswork · surmise
Self-evident starting principle
- postulateAssumed starting point
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- corollaryLogical natural consequence
- tenetHeld principle or doctrine
doctrine · fundamental · universal · canon · rule · proposition · premise · first principles
Governing framework of thought
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- schemaOrganized representational structure
construct · architecture · foundation · underpinning · scaffolding · conceptual framework · lens · perspective
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- armchairUpholstered seat with supports
- unfoundedWithout factual support
- unprovenNot yet established
crackpot · fringe · pseudoscientific · debunked · discredited · half-baked · thought experiment · counterfactual
Philosophy of existence's nature
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- phenomenologyStudy of subjective experience
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
rationalism · empiricism · postmodernism · deconstruction · hermeneutics · Platonism · realism · nominalism
Based on observation, not theory
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- falsifiableCapable of being disproven
- testableAble to be examined
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
predictive · validation · verification · evidence-based · replicable · observable · quantitative · variables
Assigned meaning
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- accountRecord of dealings
- elucidationAct of explaining clearly
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
explication · explanatory · causal · mechanism · rationale · reasoning · justification · coherence
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- postulateAssumed starting point
- suppositionBelief without proof
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
proposition · assumption · premise · inference · speculation · hunch · intuition · guesswork · surmise · tentative
axiom
Self-evident starting principle
- postulateAssumed starting point
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- corollaryLogical natural consequence
tenet · doctrine · fundamental · universal · canon · rule · proposition · premise · first principles · natural law
paradigm
Governing framework of thought
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- systemConnected parts forming whole
schema · construct · architecture · foundation · underpinning · scaffolding · conceptual framework · lens · perspective · approach
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- armchairUpholstered seat with supports
- unfoundedWithout factual support
unproven · crackpot · fringe · pseudoscientific · debunked · discredited · half-baked · thought experiment · counterfactual · what-if
metaphysics
Philosophy of existence's nature
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- phenomenologyStudy of subjective experience
existentialism · rationalism · empiricism · postmodernism · deconstruction · hermeneutics · Platonism · realism · nominalism · essentialism
empirical
Based on observation, not theory
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- falsifiableCapable of being disproven
- testableAble to be examined
peer-reviewed · predictive · validation · verification · evidence-based · replicable · observable · quantitative · variables · controlled
interpretation
Assigned meaning
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- accountRecord of dealings
- elucidationAct of explaining clearly
exposition · explication · explanatory · causal · mechanism · rationale · reasoning · justification · coherence · narrative
- humanitiesphilosophy, history, literature, philosophy class, novels
- science termsbiology, chemistry, physics, math, experiment
- Book Knowledgefacts, concepts, definitions, formulas, principles
- Greek wordsalpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon
- science classbiology, chemistry, physics, lab, experiment
- speculationconjecture, guess, guessing, speculation, guesswork
theoryfact
Verifiable piece of information
proof · certainty · verity · evidence · confirmation
theorypractice
Repeated work toward mastery
praxis · application · practical experience · hands-on experience · implementation
- in theoryHypothetically, not actually
theorem, theories, theoretical, theorize, theorist, theoretically, theorizing, theorists, theorized