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Theory (scientific) Principle or coherent collection of interrelated principles put forward as an explanation for observational and empirical findings and associated set of known facts, and as well to predict phenomena and especially new or novel results; the term may be applied in a more stringent sense, as well as the loose popular† (and misleading) usage sometimes confused with the scientific meaning. Theories seek to elucidate and explain causal relationships.
An essential idea is that scientific explanation should account for many disparate phenomena by some small number of fundamental premises – a theory’s explanatory power – often there will be successive, and progressively deeper, levels of explanation. Scientific laws are generalizations, principles, or patterns in nature – in contrast to theories which are proposed explanations for those generalizations.
(see also: construct, viability, verification, hypothesis, implication, science, scientific approach, scientific methodology, pseudo-science, systematic evidence, evolution, anecdotal evidence, (conceptual) models, operational definition, critical thinking, falsifiability, testability)
† e.g., its only a "theory".
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theory, theory (scientific), scientific theory, definition: 'scientific theory', definition: 'theory', definition: 'theory (scientific)', scientific law |