Theory

Theory =⁺df a group of definitions and tenets--used as themes--which are brought together into a set that proposes to serve as an explanation of a circumstance. It is an interconnected collection of themes used as threads woven together to make a fabric. A theory has a thesis which, of course, is also a theme. The term theory implies more than a thesis. It is a thesis bolstered with supporting material. It is a complex interconnection of many thoughts not just one proposition stated.Often a large number of themes, explicit and implicit, are contained in one theory. For example, plus root theroy consists of hundreds of themes, many of which are express in this writing as plus tenets. A theme is a thought used as a continuous thread in a theory.

The term 'theory', as plus defined, refers to systematically organized knowledge of relatively high generality. We can have theories in our head as well as expressed theories.

Theories are often referred to as Isms, eg "Pragmatism", "Existentialism".

An ideology is a theory of ideas.

In the plus definition system, a single general proposition is an hypothesis or major premise or principle.

An articulated theory is a collection of tenets expressed (verbalized or written) as a set of ideas with a unifying thesis. Some theories are precisely articulated, some are partially articulated with many details left dangling, other theories are mental constructs that have no particular organized expression.

Often a large number of themes, explicit and implicit, are contained in one theory. For example, plus root theory consists of hundreds of themes, many of which are expressed in The Roots of Sound Rational Thinking as plus tenets and plus sub theories. A theme, in this case, is a tenet used as a continuous thread in a theory.

In casual conversation, people often use the term ‘theory’ to mean an individual proposition. Plus definition system reserves ‘theory’ for the more general definition given above. We already have many terms that clearly designate individual propositions such as opinion or hypothesis or belief or cannon or principle, etc. We need the term ‘theory’ to mean "theory". The plus definition is useful in that it fills a need. See \Word Squander

When a plus tenet is repeated over and over in various guises or is used as an aspect of a theory it is, from a plus point of view, an affirmative root theme.

Plus root theory maintains that: the more affirmative root themes we incorporate in the rational style of our society, the easier it becomes to engage in productive conversation. A philosophy in which affirmative root themes have been elevated to dominating positions is an affirmative philosophy. A dialectical system based on well absorbed affirmative root themes is an affirmative dialectic. Affirmative dialectic adequately employs authentic root theory but is not necessarily perfect. Whether a dialectic is affirmative or discordant is a matter of degrees.

Sometimes people attempt to express a root tenet, but they make an error in doing so. In plus definition system this blunder is a root error. When root errors are repeated over and over they give rise to negative (minus) root themes. Negative root themes that are adopted in the rational style of a society are cultural handicaps. Cultural handicaps interfere with our abilities to progress in peace.