Theoriegebäude

Theoriegebäude is a term used in German-language scholarship to denote the theoretical edifice of a theory—the abstract framework that organizes its claims and renders its connections intelligible. It comprises core concepts, definitions, axioms or postulates, propositions, models, and the methodological assumptions that tie them together. The Theoriegebäude is distinguished from the merely empirical record by providing the interpretive structure through which observations are explained and predictions are generated.

Typical components include the central concepts and their definitions, the relations among those concepts, the scope and boundaries of the theory, the models or representations it employs, and the methodological stance (such as deductive, probabilistic, or experimental approaches). It also encompasses the justificatory arguments that connect assumptions to conjectures and empirical tests.

In philosophy of science, sociology, education, and related fields, scholars analyze the Theoriegebäude to assess its coherence, explanatory power, and resilience to new evidence. The term is often used when discussing how a theory is built, justified, revised, or replaced.

Critics warn that an overemphasized focus on the edifice may obscure the historical and iterative processes by which theories change. Proponents, however, argue that a clear description of the theoretical framework helps researchers compare competing explanations and clarify underlying assumptions.