Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Theories: theories are statement systems for the explanation of observations, e.g. of behavior or physical, chemical or biological processes. When setting up theories, a subject domain, a vocabulary of the terms to be used and admissible methods of observation are defined. In addition to explanations, the goal of the theory formation is the predictability and comparability of observations. See also systems, models, experiments, observation, observation language, theoretical terms, theoretical entities, predictions, analogies, comparisons, evidence, verification, reduction, definitions, definability._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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David Deutsch on Theories - Dictionary of Arguments
I 14 Theory: the vast majority of theories are rejected because they give poor explanations, but not because they cannot be experimentally confirmed. >Explanations, >Experiments, >Review, >Confirmation, >Verifiability. I 17 Understanding/Theory: we do not necessarily have to understand everything that a theory can explain. For example quasars: in the past it was thought that their explanation would require a new physics. But now we believe that they can be explained by general relativity. >Understanding, >Relativity Theory, >General Relativity. I 26 Initial state: There is the misunderstanding that theories of the initial state would be the most elementary. No theory can explain the beginning by something earlier. >Beginning. I 74 f A theory should provide justifications (Popper) instead of accumulating or predicting facts. Activities as such have no meaning. >Verification. But it is not the case that theories become untenable by refutation, they are actually already untenable because they are bad explanations. I 83 Languages are theories! They embody assumptions about the world in their vocabulary and grammar. >Language of theories, >Observation language, >Theory ladenness. I 83 Vs Ad hoc-Theory: an ad hoc-theory is derived from the dominant and only supplemented by one of the unexplained additions. This addition is actually a new theory. There are no reasons for this. ...because your theory, unlike mine, does not explain your predictions._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Deutsch I D. Deutsch Fabric of Reality, Harmondsworth 1997 German Edition: Die Physik der Welterkenntnis München 2000 |
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