theory -
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
explanation thought that makes something comprehensible
reductionism the analysis of complex things into simpler constituents
law of nature,
law the learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system; "he studied law at Yale"
hypothesis,
theory,
possibility a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"
blastogenesis theory that inherited characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm
preformation,
theory of preformation a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell
scientific theory a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable"
field theory (physics) a theory that explains a physical phenomenon in terms of a field and the manner in which it interacts with matter or with other fields
economic theory (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
holism,
holistic theory the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole; "holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"; "holistic theory has been applied to ecology and language and mental states"
theory -
a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"
In philosophy, theory (from ancient Greek theoria, θεωρία, meaning "a looking at, viewing, beholding") refers to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action. Theory is especially often contrasted to "practice" a concept that in its original Aristotelian context referred to actions done for their own sake, but can also refer to "technical" actions instrumental to some other aim, such as the making of tools or houses. "Theoria" is also a word still used in theological contexts.
OmegaWiki Dictionary
Ω
theory A scientific model or statement that attempts to explain observed phenomena.
