metatheories

Metatheory is a set of theoretical assumptions about the nature of theories themselves, including how theories are developed, justified, tested, and integrated. It operates at a higher level of abstraction than empirical or formal theories, and it aims to describe the aims, boundaries, and foundations of theoretical work within a discipline.

Key components include ontology (what exists), epistemology (what counts as knowledge and evidence), and axiology (values that influence research), as well as methodological implications (which methods and designs are appropriate). Metatheory also specifies criteria for evaluating theories, such as coherence, scope, simplicity, falsifiability, and generalizability, and it guides the relationship between theory and observation.

Applications: In the philosophy of science and in the social sciences, metatheory helps scholars compare different theoretical traditions (for example positivist versus interpretive or constructivist approaches), articulate implicit assumptions, and reconcile results across paradigms. It supports research program design, theory integration, and meta-analysis of theoretical claims.

Critique: Metatheory can be highly abstract, making it difficult to test; excessive emphasis can encourage relativism or theoretical paralysis if not linked to empirical criteria. Disagreements about fundamental assumptions can impede consensus on methods or interpretation.

Examples: Debates over what constitutes explanation in social science, the contrast between quantitative and qualitative paradigms, and the development of overarching meta-theories such as critical realism, constructivism, or positivism. Understanding metatheory helps researchers reflect on their own assumptions and the limits of their theories.