Tag: theory

Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking. Depending on the context, the results might for example include generalized explanations of how nature works, or even how divine or metaphysical matters are thought to work. The word has its roots in ancient Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several different related meanings.
One modern group of meanings emphasizes the speculative and generalizing nature of theory. For example in the arts and philosophy, the term “theoretical” may be used to describe ideas and empirical phenomena which are not easily measurable. And by extension of the philosophical meaning, “theoria” is also a word still used in theological contexts. As already in Aristotle’s definitions, theory is very often contrasted to “practice” (from Greek praxis, πρᾶξις) a Greek term for “doing”, which is opposed to theory because pure theory involves no doing apart from itself. A classical example of the…