#theory  a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
  supertype:  concept__conception__construct  an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
  part:  law_of_nature  hypothesis.concept
  subtype:  reductionism.theory  a theory that all complex systems can be completely understood in terms of their components
  subtype:  blastogenesis__blastogenesi  theory that inherited characteristics are transmitted by germ plasm
  subtype:  theory_of_preformation__preformation  a theory (popular in the 18th century and now discredited) that an individual develops by simple enlargement of a tiny fully formed organism (a homunculus) that exists in the germ cell
  subtype:  scientific_theory  a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable"
     subtype:  big-bang_theory__big_bang_theory  (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature
     subtype:  nebular_hypothesis  the theory that the solar system evolved from a hot gaseous nebula
     subtype:  planetesimal_hypothesis  the theory that the solar system was formed by the gravitational accumulation of planetesimals
     subtype:  Newton's_theory_of_gravitation__theory_of_gravitation__theory_of_gravity__gravitational_theory__gravitationaltheory  (physics) the theory that any two particles of matter attract one another with a force directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them
     subtype:  organicism  theory that the total organization of an organism rather than the functioning of individual organs is the determinant of life processes
     subtype:  atomic_theory  a theory in which matter consists of atoms
     subtype:  atomic_theory.scientific_theory__atomictheory  a theory of the structure of the atom
        subtype:  Bohr_theory  (physics) a theory of atomic structure that combined Rutherford's model with the quantum theory; electrons orbiting a nucleus can only be in certain stationary energy states and light is emitted when electrons jump from one energy state to another
        subtype:  Rutherford_atom  first modern concept of atomic structure; all of the positive charge and most of the mass of the atom are contained in a compact nucleus; a number of electrons (equal to the atomic number) occupy the rest of the volume of the atom and neutralize the positive charge
     subtype:  cell_theory  (biology) the theory that cells form the fundamental structural and functional units of all living organisms
     subtype:  wave_theory_of_light__wave_theory__undulatory_theory  the theory that light is transmitted as waves
     subtype:  corpuscular_theory_of_light__corpuscular_theory__corpusculartheory  the theory that light is transmitted as a stream of particles
     subtype:  kinetic_theory_of_gases__kinetictheoryofgase__kinetic_theory__kinetictheory  a theory that gases consist of small particles in random movement
        subtype:  kinetic_theory_of_heat  a theory that the temperature of a body increases when kinetic energy increases
     subtype:  Einstein's_theory_of_relativity__relativity__theory_of_relativity__relativity_theory  (physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts
        subtype:  general_relativity_theory__general_relativity__generalrelativity__general_theory_of_relativity__Einstein's_general_theory_of_relativity  a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)
        subtype:  special_relativity_theory__special_relativity__specialrelativity__special_theory_of_relativity__Einstein's_special_theory_of_relativity  a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems
     subtype:  supersymmetry  a theory that tries to link the four fundamental forces; "according to supersymmetry each force emerged separately during the big bang"
     subtype:  quantum_theory__quantumtheory  a physical theory that certain properties occur only in discrete amounts (quanta)
     subtype:  uncertainty_principle__uncertaintyprinciple__indeterminacy_principle__indeterminacyprinciple  the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time
     subtype:  germ_theory  the theory that all contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms
     subtype:  information_theory__informationtheory  a statistical theory dealing with the limits and efficiency of information processing
     subtype:  Arrhenius_theory_of_dissociation__theory_of_dissociation__theory_of_electrolytic_dissociation  (chemistry) theory that describes aqueous solutions in terms of acids (which dissociate to give hydrogen ions) and bases (which dissociate to give hydroxyl ions); the product of an acid and a base is a salt and water
     subtype:  theory_of_evolution__theory_of_organic_evolution  (biology) a scientific theory of the origin of species of plants and animals
        subtype:  Darwinism  a theory of organic evolution claiming that new species arise and are perpetuated by natural selection
           subtype:  Neo-Darwinism  a modern Darwinian theory that explains new species in terms of genetic mutations
        subtype:  Lamarckism  a theory of organic evolution claiming that acquired characteristics are transmitted to offspring
           subtype:  Neo-Lamarckism  a modern Lamarckian theory emphasizing the importance of environmental factors in genetic changes and retaining the notion of the inheritance of acquired characters
     subtype:  Ostwald's_theory_of_indicators__theory_of_indicators  (chemistry) the theory that all indicators are either weak acids or weak bases in which the color of the ionized form is different from the color before dissociation
     subtype:  theory_of_inheritance  a theory of how characteristics of one generation are derived from earlier generations
        subtype:  Mendelism__Mendelianism  the theory of inheritance based on Mendel's laws
     subtype:  game_theory__theory_of_games  a theory of competition stated in terms of gains and losses among opposing players
  subtype:  economic_theory  (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)
     subtype:  consumerism.economic_theory  the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically beneficial
     subtype:  Keynesianism  the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes who advocated government monetary and fiscal programs intended to stimulate business activity and increase employment
     subtype:  liberalism.economic_theory  an economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market and the gold standard
     subtype:  Malthusianism__Malthusian_theory  Malthus' theory that population increase would outpace increases in the means of subsistence
     subtype:  monetarism  an economic theory holding that variations in unemployment and the rate of inflation are usually caused by changes in the supply of money
  subtype:  structural_sociology__structuralism  a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals
  subtype:  structural_anthropology__structuralism  an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena

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