Editing Theory (section)

{{Short description|Supposition or system of ideas intended to explain something}}
{{About||theories in science|Scientific theory|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
A '''theory''' is a systematic and rational form of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the conclusions derived from such thinking. It involves contemplative and [[logical reasoning]], often supported by processes such as observation, experimentation, and research. Theories can be scientific, falling within the realm of empirical and testable knowledge, or they may belong to non-scientific disciplines, such as philosophy, art, or sociology. In some cases, theories may exist independently of any formal discipline.

In modern science, the term "theory" refers to [[Scientific theory|scientific theories]], a well-confirmed type of explanation of [[nature]], made in a way [[Consistency|consistent]] with the [[scientific method]], and fulfilling the [[Scientific theory#Characteristics of theories|criteria]] required by [[modern science]]. Such theories are described in such a way that scientific tests should be able to provide [[Empirical evidence|empirical]] support for it, or [[Empirical evidence|empirical]] contradiction ("[[Falsifiability|falsify]]") of it. Scientific theories are the most reliable, rigorous, and comprehensive form of scientific knowledge,<ref>{{cite web |last=Schafersman |first=Steven D. |title=An Introduction to Science |url = http://www.geo.sunysb.edu/esp/files/scientific-method.html }}</ref> in contrast to more common uses of the word "theory" that imply that something is unproven or speculative (which in formal terms is better characterized by the word ''[[hypothesis]]'').<ref>{{cite book| author=National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine| title=Science, evolution, and creationism| date=2008| publisher=National Academies Press| location=Washington, D.C.| isbn=978-0309105866| page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780309105866/page/11 11]| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780309105866/page/11| access-date=26 September 2015| url-access=registration}}</ref> Scientific theories are distinguished from hypotheses, which are individual empirically [[testable]] [[conjecture]]s, and from [[scientific laws]], which are descriptive accounts of the way nature behaves under certain conditions.

Theories guide the enterprise of finding facts rather than of reaching goals, and are neutral concerning alternatives among values.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=McMurray|first1=Foster |title=Preface to an Autonomous Discipline of Education |journal=Educational Theory |date=July 1955 |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=129–140 |doi = 10.1111/j.1741-5446.1955.tb01131.x }}</ref>{{rp|131}} A theory can be a [[body of knowledge]], which may or may not be associated with particular explanatory [[Conceptual model|models]]. To theorize is to develop this body of knowledge.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Gary |title=Education and theory : strangers in paradigms |year=2007 |publisher=Open Univ. Press |location=Maidenhead |isbn=9780335211791 }}</ref>{{rp|46}}

The word theory or "in theory" is sometimes used outside of science to refer to something which the speaker did not experience or test before.<ref>[https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/evolution-today/what-is-a-theory What is a Theory?]. [[American Museum of Natural History]].</ref> In science, this same concept is referred to as a [[hypothesis]], and the word "hypothetically" is used both inside and outside of science. In its usage outside of science, the word "theory" is very often contrasted to "[[praxis (process)|practice]]" (from Greek ''[[Wiktionary:praxis|praxis]]'', πρᾶξις) a Greek term for ''doing'', which is opposed to theory.<ref name=mediumthelaw>David J Pfeiffer. ''[https://medium.com/science-journal/scientific-theory-vs-scientific-law-5624633a8f1b Scientific Theory vs Law]''. [[Science (journal)|Science Journal]] (on medium.com). 30 January 2017</ref> A "classical example" of the distinction between "theoretical" and "practical" uses the discipline of medicine: [[medical theory]] involves trying to understand the [[Causality|causes]] and nature of health and sickness, while the practical side of medicine is trying to make people healthy. These two things are related but can be independent, because it is possible to research health and sickness without curing specific patients, and it is possible to cure a patient without knowing how the cure worked.{{efn|1= See for example [[Hippocrates]] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0251:text=Praec.:section=1&highlight=medical%2Ctheory Praeceptiones, Part 1].  {{webarchive |url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140912175614/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0251:text=Praec.:section=1&highlight=medical%2Ctheory |date = 12 September 2014 }} }}