iteoria

Iteoria is a term used in contemporary theoretical discourse to refer to an integrative framework for examining how theories are constructed, evaluated, and applied across disciplines. It is not a single field but a family of proposals that emphasize the practices of theorizing as central to knowledge production.

Origin and usage: The name combines elements of theory (theoria) with a prefix signaling integration or informational orientation. Different authors use it to stress that theory should be understood as a dynamic process embedded in data, methods, and social context rather than as a fixed body of statements.

Conceptual features: Iteoria foregrounds meta-theoretical questions, such as how theories gain legitimacy, how competing models are compared, and how theoretical change occurs. It favors information-centric modeling, transparent assumptions, and methodological pluralism, mixing qualitative, quantitative, computational, and narrative approaches while prioritizing reproducibility and critical reflexivity.

Applications: In philosophy of science, Iteoria is used to analyze theory-choice and model development. In social sciences, it guides the evaluation of explanatory frameworks. In AI and cognitive science, it informs the design of interpretable models and the assessment of theoretical underpinnings behind algorithms.

Reception and status: Since its emergence in speculative environments in the late 2000s and 2010s, Iteoria remains debated. Proponents argue it helps unify diverse research programs; critics warn that it risks vagueness and lacks shared criteria for evaluation.

Related concepts: theory, metatheory, philosophy of science, systems theory, information theory.