What is theory?
Theory is a body of ideas principles and techniques that applies to a particular subject or in more abstract way its speculation or propositions based on a set of facts or principles analyzed in their relation to one another to explain any phenomenon. 1
I believe that theory is a mental construct to explain any physical/meta-physical phenomenon. Theories try to decode basics of any complex phenomenon based on functions which results in that particular phenomenon. These theories are outcome of observation and patterns study and lie in repetition of events. I believe this relation is origin of certain framework and point of view that is why we have various theories explaining the same phenomenon. Existence of various theories for same phenomenon explains importance of various parallel forces and processes which result in that event.
There are various existing propositions on theories but I am trying to propose a ‘theory of theories’ based on my observation and understanding (subjected to change with time).
Need of theory?
Since the evolution of mankind till today man is surrounded by big and monstrous ‘Why’. Think of first day of man on earth, he would have felt like an alien in this world where everything was unknown and strange including ‘he’ himself. He might have tried to understand ‘why’s’ in terms of evident patterns of seasons and crops or day and night (may be understanding of day and night may be one of first theories of mankind). Here came need to categorize various patterns or phenomenon in sets. One can relate to various why’s, only when there is a categorization possible of these otherwise very complex phenomenon of life and world. So this desire of simplification is process of theorizing. In this process one tries to understand the sequences of relation between various functions and develops a common thread according to which the processes operate, this provides a general understanding of complete set. This generalization helps us understand complex world in simple sets. This categorization can be done on various grounds to achieve various understanding of same phenomenon.
The understanding which one derives from theory helps us to conceive the relations and functions necessary to repeat same event in future. Art and architectural theoretical construct works majorly on this process of inquiry.
Types of theories:
I am proposing a construct for understanding various theories according to time scale. I think there are three kind of major theoretical constructs which are:
-Theory of timeless processes
-Theory of past to present
-Theory of future
Theory of timeless processes:I believe this is first construct which was developed by man and basically covers realm of philosophy and science. These theories try to deal with ‘why’s’ which are unaffected by the time like beauty, truth, gravity, light etc. This process of theorizing tries to understand the world in both physical and meta-physical formats. Experimentation and observation are basic tools for this kind of theoretical construct. Here one tries to explore reason based on experimented facts and explains these timeless process based on this knowledge. One of the most popular examples is ‘shape of earth’ which was flat before Galileo’s theory. The basic queries of this category are more or less timeless in nature but tools of exploration and experimentation change with time which results in different outcomes for same queries. So in this category we can trace the development of our knowledge and change of the views with time.
Theory of past to present : This can be seen as a act of Historiography and desire to set up a construct which links all selected facts which are channelized through a certain framework concentrating on certain aspect (like social, economic, architecture or so on) to achieve certain end result. Now, this according to me is a structuralist approach to past and here we like to stitch facts to fit in certain structure to produce a result which is our present or known to us. This is similar kind of situation which one faces in proving mathematical equations, where one knows what is given and what is to be proved. In this methods one starts to think a method by which we can attain certain result. This decides the course of his selection of formulas which will be used proving certain equation. This process of theorizing seems promising but missies some parallel line of enquiries and concentrate on only those events, facts and situations which resulted in happening of certain event in history. This format of theorizing tries to explain ‘why’ of certain act in history and linking its reason to result.
Theory of Future: I consider this as a visionary’s speculation of present or parallels (here, by parallels I mean, weaving of situation to stage event in a parallel time frame). In this process one takes the ground of the existing or known situations and projects a relation on any mathematical or hypothetical construct of reasoning to set stage for new desired situation. Some theories on based on real ground situations which are tested by time for their authenticity. These grounds can be same as existing or in some relation to theses known situation. Theories of utopia, dystopia, philosophical & critical thinking for future and parallel visions lie in this category. For example George Orwell’s famous novel Nineteen Eighty Four (1984).
Crisis of Theory:
Theory studies the common aspects to weave all subjects in single string. This provides a generalization through exclusive study and one gets rid of all the articulation and complexity. This gives us an idea about the relation between elements but all the beauty of individuality is washed off. By theorizing one relates to common aspect but at the same time miss out the exception and differences. As per my understanding every theory should be studies with ‘anti-theory’ which can deconstruct the focus framed by theory and provides one a real understanding of the facts rather than a mental construct of understanding.
References:
1 as per Encarta dictionary.
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