The Role of Theory
Eng 399: Literary Criticism
THEORY- Any attempt to explain or represent a phenomenon;
a conceptualization of a set of events; or a construction of what
an experience is like based on systematic observation.
Types of theory:
- scientific
- humanistic
- social sciences
Functions of Theory
- The Organization and Summation of Knowledge.
- Focusing attention on important variables or
relationships.
- Clarifying that which is observed.
- Showing how to observe.
- To predict behavior/results.
- The heuristic function of creating new research.
- Provide a framework for communicating and debating
knowledge.
- Establishes norms of performance.
Inquiry-The systematic, disciplined ordering of experience
that leads to the discovery of knowledge (Epistemology).
Stages of Inquiry
- Asking Questions
- Questions of Definition (what is it?)
- Questions of fact
- Questions of Value
- Observation of the object of inquiry
- Constructing answers (this stage is generally referred to
as theory).
Aspects of Theory (how theory leads to epistemes)
- A. concepts
- B. Explanations
- C. necessity
Separate Approaches of Theory:
- Law Theories
- rely rimarily on causal necessity. Law theories utilize
laws which specify causal relations among variables.
- Rules
- Attempts to describe the rules that compose human
society.
- systems
- Examines the interrelations of units of a system. Focuses
on correlations among events.
Metatheoryspeculation on the nature of
inquiry.
Rhetoric
- Traditional
- a: Rhetoric is the means of discovering all
available means of persuasion - Aristotle
- b. Rhetoric as Ornamentation
- c. Rhetoric as argumentation/disputation.
- d. Rhetoric as educational tool.
- Modern