Reflections
Last week dealt with the question of what theory really is and what types of theories exist. In particular, there was one question in the seminar, which was debated over and I tried to reflect on this question specifically: What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?As we learnt in the lecture, a theory provides an explanatory framework for an observation. It presents a range of proposals to identify objects and their relationship to each other.
On the one hand, a theory generally describes the scientific realization itself, describing an idea of something being not subject of our sensory perception. As a scientist, you usually observe first and then based on your findings try to form universal laws not by experience but by reasoning. A theory is therefore always something constructed and not something that exists by itself. As each theory is based on a key idea, it has to be continually contrasted by practise. The saying "it might work in theory, but not in practise" is hereby actually wrongly used, because when something is wrong in practise, it is essentially wrong in theory too.
On the other hand, a hypothesis can potentially become a theory, but starts out as a logical idea. It functions as prediction, which is taken as an explanation of certain appearances - usually in nature. For instance, you watch the light fall a specific way, and take on an assumption about the nature of light itself. Based on this prerequisite you try to explain other phenomena of light. Hypotheses present therefore the state of our knowledge of that truth. For them to become part of a scientific theory, you have to check them in reality. Therefore, a chain of events should be conducted emphasising the hypothesis. When the comparison with practise is failing or in the long-term not possible, the hypothesis is proven wrong and rejected as unscientific. As long as a hypothesis cannot be compared to reality, it cannot be called a theory.
A theory has therefore always to be matched with experience. It tries to reflect the best possible and complete image of reality. Laws of nature and theories are not allowed to contradict each other. When they do, then it is a sign that something is wrong. That is why you always have to review, adjust and extend your understanding. However, in science the concept of the one final, universal truth does not exist. A theory can never dispel all doubts or be ultimately proven, it can just be confirmed by tests.
Carone, L., 2008. Was ist eine Theorie? [online]. ScienceBlogs. Available: http://scienceblogs.de/planeten/2008/04/07/was-ist-eine-theorie/ [Accessed at 27 Sept. 2015].
Kirchner, F. and Michaëlis, C., 1907. Kirchner's Wörterbuch der philosophischen Grundbegriffe. Leipzig: Dürr, p. 632-633.
1838. Brockhaus Bilder-Conversations-Lexikon. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus, Vol. 2, p. 435.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog post since it is structured and easy to follow. I especially enjoyed your example of the saying to underline the purpose of theory. Furthermore, we mentioned Thomas S. Kuhn and his idea of a paradigm shift. All in all, I would have find it interesting if you would have mentioned your own learnings from lecture and seminar. Great Job!
Hi,
ReplyDeletevery nice writing of yours as it is well structured and hence covnices with a good readability. I really liked that you clearly pointed out the differences between theory and hypothesis and how they are related to each other. All in all a very well written summary of yours.
You did a great job summarizing what we learned during the last week. The sentence "A theory is therefore always something constructed and not something that exists by itself." clearly shows how important our former work on what knowledge is and how knowledge is created was. If I would have read this sentence a couple of weeks ago I would have seen it in a very different way as I do now after spending so much time on thinking about knowledge and theory. Seems like you put a lot of effort in explaining and summarizing the differences and relations between theory and hypothesis.
ReplyDeleteGreat reflection! You sum up the main concepts of the theme in a very straight forward way, I especially liked you mention of the saying "it might work in theory, but not in practise" I found the discussion about theory and practise very interesting but had not thoguht about this.
ReplyDeleteThat universal truths do not exist is something I will take with me from this course, it seems very relevant in pretty much every theme so far and has changed my viewpoint. Did you also discuss paradigms when discussing theories and truth? I found the relation between them extremely interesting! If you did not talk about it I think you should check it out.
Keep up the good work in the coming themes!
Hi! Thank you for comprehensive and well-structured reflection. I like your mention that universal truth doesn't exist. I think that truth is always relative and depends on time and historical perspective. In our seminar we discussed that philosophycation is the way to find the truth.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. You seems devote a lot of time and effort to the posts this week. Nice job! As you highlight that theory presents a range of proposals to identify objects and their relationship to each other, I agree with that because theory is tested and accepted by a majority of experts in a particular field. Great job!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog post, it was very interesting and I think that you describe the difference between theory and hypothesis in a easy and good way which made me understand it better. I will also like to add that the discussion of theory vs practice that they are in one way connected to each other when theory is a way of practice since theory forms practice, and practice is a form of theory, and also that practice is the knowledge of "doing".
I like the opening paragraph, it sort of sets the stage for what one could find in the text. Moreover, you provided a very detailed definition of theory, some thing that you have learnt in the lecture, and apparently I don’t remember! “theory provides an explanatory framework for an observation. It presents a range of proposals to identify objects and their relationship to each other.” Very well said.
ReplyDeleteYou have written very detailed and meticulous account with some punching arguments about the theme 3. I really enjoyed reading the text. Here, I would like to discuss some of the points you brought up, but by no mean all of them.
I fully agree with your explanation of what a theory is. That, it is a “scientific realization” and it is the fruit of our attempt to create “universal laws” based on our “findings” not our “sensory perception”. However, I think that our “sensory perception”, if you will, always influence our findings. That is, no matter how objective one is at his/her research there are some degrees of subjectivity in his/her work. Additionally, I am of the opinion that theories are not the outcome of pure reasoning, but our experience, maybe not always, play a major role in forming our perception. I like the part where you mention yet another characteristics of a theory “A theory is therefore always something constructed and not something that exists by itself.” Very well said.
I should stop here before my comments get longer.
All in all, I liked reading your text. Good job!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteReading your reflections helped even more to sort thing about theory, praxis and hypothesis. I like your structure and it was easy to follow your thoughts. In our seminar we didn’t talk about practice and it use really helpful to read it from you. I agree with you that theory is something constructed, based on facts events or hypothesis that have been proved right. Hypothesis also has a meaning and it could be theory only if it exists in space and time, and as you said if it can be compared to reality. Good job!
Hey!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting and clear explanation of difference between the theory and hypothesis. Even I agree with it, I am not sure if this point of view can be generalised to all fields of study. This model works well for natural sciences, but what about other field that don't investigate outer reality and phenomena occurring in it? For example in psychology, their hypothesis and theories can not be proven in the real world through material means so they have a completely different explanations for those terms.
I think the examples you made were great and they weren't something I have read before. A theory is indeed something constructed, which is an important realisation when combatting notions that theories are arbitrary or just loose thoughts. However, I haven't gotten the impression that a hypothesis can become a theory, but rather that a hypothesis is the starting point (or at least a point in the early stages) of constructing a theory.
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