Theodore Schick Jr.The amount of understanding produced by a theory is determined by how well it meets the criteria of adequacy—testability, fruitfulness, scope, simplicity, conservatism—because these criteria indicate the extent to which a theory systematizes and unifies our knowledge.
About This Quote
In the process of understanding, a theory must meet certain criteria to be able to be accepted. The criteria of adequacy, testability, fruitfulness, scope, simplicity and conservatism are important in understanding a theory. Adequacy means that a theory must be able to answer questions and not leave any unanswered questions in its place. A theory has to be testable.
The theory has to be fruitful in the sense that it can lead to new and interesting discoveries in the field of science or in other rigorous fields. A good theory should have a high scope so that the domain it covers is well defined and clear. A theory should be simple in terms of not having much explanation involved in its explanation.
It should also be conservative when it comes to our current knowledge.
Source: How To Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking For A New Age
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