Theme 3: Reflection

Something that stood out to me during the seminar is that theory is not fact. I think it is easy to mistake theory as an absolute truth, when in fact the only thing that is absolute is a priori knowledge. Because theory is based on research and data, it was initially difficult to understand it as something other than fact. I would have considered research and empirical evidence to have proven theory. Yet, because theory is an explanation of observed phenomena, we cannot be sure that our research and observations are not inaccurate. This can be tied into our discussion on Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason and how all theories have to be grounded in sense perception, but we ascribe our feelings and subjectivity to our observations. Pure sense perception does not exist. When postulating theory, we cannot be absolutely certain that our own observations do not deceive us or that they are not skewed by preconceived notions. In that way, theory can never be proven. But also in that sense, when new observations and causations are observed, a theory does not cease to be a theory. Theories can conflict or relate and still stand. I find this concept to be interesting as that means that theories that are widely considered to be false in today’s society, would still be considered theory.  

Another misconception I had is exactly the opposite; that theory is something that is unproven. Before reading this week’s articles, I had likened theory to a hypothesis. I think when people use theory in contexts other than research, when they say they have a “theory about something”, this is what they mean. I found it interesting that people assume polarizing definitions of theory, that it is either absolute fact or something unproven. It actually falls somewhat in the middle; theory is instead a tested assumption.