teoritis

Teoritis is a neologism used in discussions of scientific reasoning and cognitive bias to describe a persistent preference for theory-driven explanations over direct empirical testing. It denotes a condition in which theoretical desirability and coherence overly influence the evaluation of models, sometimes at the expense of empirical adequacy.

Etymology and concept: the term combines theory with the medical suffix -itis, signaling an inflammation-like persistence of theorizing. It is used mainly in interdisciplinary debates about method, especially where theoretical elegance is invoked to justify speculative claims.

Characteristics: features include prioritization of coherence and explanatory ambition, tendency to reinterpret conflicting data to fit a favored theory, and resistance to paradigm change. It often involves selective consideration of evidence and a premium placed on theoretical beauty over rough empirical fit.

Domains and examples: theoritis is discussed in contexts such as theoretical physics and cosmology, economics, and social sciences, particularly where models possess high explanatory allure or predictive appeal. In philosophy of science, it is treated as a caution against overreach and excessive reliance on elegant frameworks.

Critiques and responses: critics argue that theoritis can suppress falsification, bias research agendas, and slow scientific progress. Proponents advocate strategies such as methodological pluralism, explicit separation of theoretical development from empirical testing, preregistration of analyses, and cross-checking with independent data to mitigate its influence.

See also: confirmation bias, theoretical inertia, falsifiability, coherence theory of justification.