Method can fail through either dogmatic generality or atomistic localism

Evidence

Theory formation is a conceptual approach to formulating general principles inherent in a specific field of research. A theory has higher generality and potentially the widest applicability compared to experimentation and modelling techniques. On the other hand, very general theories are hard to apply to complex and specific cases in practice; they rather help and direct the thinking process. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 102 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Motivation for the purer theory came almost exclusively from preoccupation with (and fascination with) “applied” problems; and the clarification of theoretical ideas was absolutely dependent on an identification of live examples. — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 11 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Science justifies methods by success while ignoring domains where intersubjective certainty fails; Abstract theory is clarified only through concrete applied cases — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 11; Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 102 (+2 more)

Related

• Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases (similarity 0.91)
• Mastering a theory’s principles alone does not ensure correct application (similarity 0.89)
• Theory aims to think concrete objects through their multiple interrelations (similarity 0.86)
• Moving from abstract theory to concrete analysis requires adding new concepts (similarity 0.83)
• Theory is needed to break through deceptive appearances but cannot dictate action (similarity 0.83)
• Abstract theory is clarified only through concrete applied cases (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases #exemplifies (0.75) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 102
• Science justifies methods by success while ignoring domains where intersubjective certainty fails #complicates (0.72)
• Abstract theory is clarified only through concrete applied cases #corroborates (0.72) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 11