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• Monday, June 30, 2008 04:33 PM

  The meanings of "Theory"

  Event Horizon:

  No, "theory' always means imperfect fact. It does'nt mean something else when it becomes inconvenient.

  Uh... no, "theory" can have one of several meanings, depending on context. See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/theory.

  the·o·ry

  –noun, plural -ries.

  1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.

  2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.

  3. Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.

  4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.

  5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.

  6. contemplation or speculation.

  7. guess or conjecture.

  [Origin: 1590–1600; < LL theoria < Gk theoría a viewing, contemplating, equiv. to theor(ein) to view + -ia -y3]

  —Synonyms 1. Theory, hypothesis are used in non-technical contexts to mean an untested idea or opinion. A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena: the theory of relativity. A hypothesis is a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth: This idea is only a hypothesis.

  —delosgatos Read delosgatos's other letters
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