

The Value of a Good Theory
We are often dismissive of theories on the grounds that they are divorced from reality and the solution to real-world problems. “It is just a theory” we often hear. Yet, theories are vital to scientific progress and scholarly discourse. They help explain empirical observations (by uncovering underlying patterns and relationships) and, if formulated properly, should be falsifiable. As a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions, theories attempt to frame prob