DIMENSIONS: EVALUATION / Perspective
Theory, properly, is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena
R E F E R E N C E S
Theory n. 1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Newton's theory of gravitation. 2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact. 3. Math. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory. 4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory. 5. quess or conjecture. [< LL theória < GK theória a veiwing, contemplating = theór(ein) (to) view + -ia -x3]
-Syn. 1. Theory, Hypothesis are both often used colloquially to mean an untested idea or opinion. A Theory properly is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena: the theory of relativity. A Hypothesis is a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of certain phenomena or relations, and serves as a basis of argument or experimentation by which to reach the truth: This idea is offered only as a hypothesis. 2. rationale, guess.
[Urdang, Laurence, ed. Random House Dictionary of The English Language. New York: Random House, 1968.]
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