The"o*ry (?), n.; pl.
Theories (#). [F. théorie, L.
theoria, Gr. &?; a beholding, spectacle, contemplation, speculation,
fr. &?; a spectator, &?; to see, view. See Theater.]
1. A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates
in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis;
speculation.
&fist; "This word is employed by English writers in a very loose and
improper sense. It is with them usually convertible into hypothesis,
and hypothesis is commonly used as another term for
conjecture. The terms theory and theoretical are
properly used in opposition to the terms practice and
practical. In this sense, they were exclusively employed by the
ancients; and in this sense, they are almost exclusively employed by the
Continental philosophers." Sir W. Hamilton.
2. An exposition of the general or abstract
principles of any science; as, the theory of music.
3. The science, as distinguished from the art; as,
the theory and practice of medicine.
4. The philosophical explanation of phenomena,
either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam
Smith's theory of moral sentiments.
Atomic theory, Binary theory,
etc. See under Atomic, Binary, etc.
Syn. -- Hypothesis, speculation. -- Theory,
Hypothesis. A theory is a scheme of the relations subsisting
between the parts of a systematic whole; an hypothesis is a
tentative conjecture respecting a cause of phenomena.
The"o*ry (?), n.; pl.
Theories (#). [F. théorie, L.
theoria, Gr. &?; a beholding, spectacle, contemplation, speculation,
fr. &?; a spectator, &?; to see, view. See Theater.]
1. A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates
in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis;
speculation.
&fist; "This word is employed by English writers in a very loose and
improper sense. It is with them usually convertible into hypothesis,
and hypothesis is commonly used as another term for
conjecture. The terms theory and theoretical are
properly used in opposition to the terms practice and
practical. In this sense, they were exclusively employed by the
ancients; and in this sense, they are almost exclusively employed by the
Continental philosophers." Sir W. Hamilton.
2. An exposition of the general or abstract
principles of any science; as, the theory of music.
3. The science, as distinguished from the art; as,
the theory and practice of medicine.
4. The philosophical explanation of phenomena,
either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam
Smith's theory of moral sentiments.
Atomic theory, Binary theory,
etc. See under Atomic, Binary, etc.
Syn. -- Hypothesis, speculation. -- Theory,
Hypothesis. A theory is a scheme of the relations subsisting
between the parts of a systematic whole; an hypothesis is a
tentative conjecture respecting a cause of phenomena.
