théorie

Théorie is the French term for theory. In science and philosophy, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation that accounts for a broad range of phenomena and makes testable predictions. The term derives from Latin theoria and Greek theōria.

A theory differs from a hypothesis, which is a tentative statement to be tested, and from a law, which describes consistent observations without explaining underlying mechanisms. Theories integrate laws, observations, and models into a coherent framework and may encompass many related propositions.

Evaluation of theories relies on evidence from observation and experimentation, as well as predictive success and internal coherence. The idea of falsifiability—being open to refutation by evidence—has been influential in scientific methodology, along with later Bayesian approaches that treat theory confirmation probabilistically.

Examples include the theory of evolution, general relativity, quantum theory, the germ theory of disease, and theoretical constructs such as game theory. In the humanities, “theory” often denotes interpretive frameworks like critical theory or feminist theory that guide analysis.

Historically, the modern notion of theory developed during the Scientific Revolution, with further refinement by philosophers such as Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn. Contemporary discussions emphasize theory choice, underdetermination, and the role of models in connecting data to explanation.