Errònies

Errònies is a term used in some strands of philosophy of science and cognitive studies to denote a class of systematic misrepresentations that arise when observers interpret phenomena through constrained models or linguistic frameworks. The term is not part of a standardized vocabulary; its meaning and scope vary by author, with some treating errònies as persistent errors across theory change and others as cross-system misalignments between data, models, and language.

Etymology and form are informal in current use. The word errònies combines the English root err- (from error) with a plural-sounding suffix that evokes Greek-derived conventions, and is sometimes marked with an accent to indicate stress. Because it is not widely codified, its exact spelling and pronunciation can differ across texts.

Core characteristics attributed to errònies include: (1) being systemic rather than random, (2) arising from interactions among representation, interpretation, and communication, and (3) exhibiting context sensitivity that can hinder cross-domain translation or theory change. They are often discussed in relation to modeling biases, theory-ladenness of observation, or misalignments between empirical data and abstract frameworks.

In practice, discussions of errònies appear in debates about underdetermination and the limits of representation in science, as well as in cognitive accounts of persistent biases when converting complex stimuli into simplified schemas. In speculative fiction, the term may be used to describe misperceived realities generated by faulty worldbuilding or narrative translation.

See also: cognitive bias, misinterpretation, underdetermination, theory-ladenness.