What is a theory?

[TheUniverseYou]

This is more of a discussion question than a the-person-asking-the-question-doesn't-know question.List of notable theories: * Astronomy: Big Bang Theory * Biology: Cell theory — Evolution * Chemistry: Atomic theory — Kinetic theory of gases * Climatology: Theory of Global Climate Change (due to anthropogenic activity) * Computer science: Algorithmic information theory — Computation theory * Economics: Decision theory * Education: Constructivist theory — Critical pedagogy theory — Education theory — Emotional education theory — Multiple intelligence theory — Progressive education theory * Engineering: Circuit theory — Control theory — Signal theory — Systems theory * Film: Film Theory * Games: Game theory — Rational choice theory * Geology: Plate tectonics * Humanities: Critical theory * Literature: Literary theory * Mathematics: Catastrophe theory — Category theory — Chaos theory — Graph theory — Knot theory — Number theory

[Icanspeelfine7168]

Is my mother inlaw satan?

[Thomas1225]

theory is the right observation using the latest recognized tools which human mind ..something like that.OK forget abt it - god did it.

[Maurog7897]

A scientific theory is meant to explain the current facts and make falsifiable predictions about patterns of facts emerging in the future.In theory (haha), any of the above can be tackled if we discover facts that contradict them, in which case the theory must be revised or rejected. They are accepted theories precisely because all new facts correspond to their predictions so far.

[sara_tara20031285]

theory is something that has been proved and made a record of the proved stuff as practical is only momentary and cannot serve for a long time, and as the way of type prctical work was made is given in the form of a written language and its been elaborated so that people can have a better idea and it can be preserved for a long time too.

[mukto_mona1734]

An established idea, unlike a hypothesis or rumors.

[SlightlyDarkFrancis4068]

An explanation for something based on reason and investigation and experiment.

[loquitaamericana]

Theory, is any knowledge, truth, understanding, or belief by humans.

[FireHalo]

A theory is the best guess, until a better one is found. Every theory is broken, think...the earth is flat, we dissolve if we move faster than 60 mph (sounds like the speed of light being the fastest possible doesn't it)...People thought these were absolutely true, and now we know they are not. People were killed if they had disbelief.

[EverardG3262]

I wonder if fundie will understand all that - probably not, huh?They'll move on with their lives still thinking that theory equates to hypothesis and or wild unsubstantiated guesswork.~