The word “theory” has different meanings depending on the context. In science, it is a tested concept used to explain an event, while in the arts, it refers to non-practical work. The term dates back to 1592 and has evolved to describe explanations based on observation and testing. Scientific theories are extensively tested before being accepted, while in mathematics, theories are bodies of knowledge about specific types of mathematics. In the arts, artists refer to their non-practical work as theoretical, and art criticism is also a field of theory. To the uninitiated, a theory is simply an idea, but in science, it is a tested and verifiable concept.
The word “theory” means a number of different things, depending on the context. In mathematics and science, for example, it is a tested and verifiable concept that is used to explain an event. For students of the arts, the term refers to the non-practical aspect of their work, while laymen refer to unproven ideas and speculations as theories. The multitude of meanings for this word can be confusing, but the intent is usually clear from the context; a mathematical paper that talks about a theory, for example, probably refers to it in a scientific sense.
In English, the word dates back to 1592, when it was used to mean a concept or pattern. By the 1630s, scientists had co-opted the term, using it to describe an explanation or thinking based on observation and testing. In the same period “Theorising” also emerged.
In the sciences, theories are created after observation and testing. They are designed to rationally and clearly explain a phenomenon. For example, Isaac Newton invented a theory of gravity in the 17th century, and it has proven to be both testable and correct. Scientific theories are not exactly the same as facts, but they are often very similar; scientists usually test their theories extensively before putting them on the air, looking for obvious problems that might call them into question.
In mathematics, theories are bodies of knowledge about specific types of mathematics. Mathematicians use things like set theory in the course of their work. Theoretical math can get quite complex and abstract, making it difficult for laymen to understand at times, but it helps explain everything from the movement of crowds to the origins of the universe.
In the arts, many artists refer to their non-practical work as theoretical. For example, a tuba player would use the term to refer to the study of music history, music mathematics, and other related material. Art criticism is also a field of theory, as critics discuss works of art, rather than actively producing them, and through their discussions they contribute to the general field.
To the uninitiated, a theory is simply an idea. Some people use the word as a “hypothesis,” postulating an idea that needs to be tested. Other times, an idea may be dismissed as “just a theory,” with the implication that it can’t be proven and is just a rough idea, not a firm fact or opinion.
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