Theory aims to think concrete objects through their multiple interrelations

Evidence

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: Theory is deployed strategically as bricolage rather than produced as autonomous object; Moving from abstract theory to concrete analysis requires adding new concepts; Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 102 (+4 more)

Related

• Moving from abstract theory to concrete analysis requires adding new concepts (similarity 0.95)
• Mastering a theory’s principles alone does not ensure correct application (similarity 0.91)
• Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases (similarity 0.87)
• Abstract theory is clarified only through concrete applied cases (similarity 0.86)
• Method can fail through either dogmatic generality or atomistic localism (similarity 0.86)
• Theory is needed to break through deceptive appearances but cannot dictate action (similarity 0.85)
• Theory is deployed strategically as bricolage rather than produced as autonomous object (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Abstract theory is clarified only through concrete applied cases #corroborates (0.78) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 11
• Moving from abstract theory to concrete analysis requires adding new concepts #expands (0.75)
• Very general theories guide thinking but resist direct application to specific cases #qualifies (0.72) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 102
• Historical change forces theorists to invent new, more concrete concepts #expands (0.72)