Metatheory

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about theories about theories. For the concept in logic, see Metatheorem.

A metatheory or meta-theory is a theory on a subject matter that is a theory in itself.[1] Analyses or descriptions of an existing theory would be considered meta-theories.[2] If the subject matter of a theoretical statement consists of one or multiple theories, it would also be called a meta-theory.[3] For mathematics and mathematical logic, a metatheory is a mathematical theory about another mathematical theory.[4] Meta-theoretical investigations are part of the philosophy of science.[5] The topic of metascience is an attempt to use scientific knowledge to improve the practice of science itself.

The study of metatheory became widespread during the 20th century after its application to various topics, including scientific linguistics and its concept of metalanguage.

Examples of metatheories

Metascience

Main article: Metascience

Metascience is the use of

research methods to study how research is done or can be improved. It has been described as "research on research", "the science of science", and "a bird's eye view of science".[6] In the words of John Ioannidis, "Science is the best thing that has happened to human beings ... but we can do it better."[7]

In 1966, an early meta-research paper examined the

soft sciences. The term "replication crisis" was invented during the early 2010s as part of an increasing awareness of the problem.[8]

Measures have been implemented to address the issues revealed by metascience. These measures include the

peer review process, to reduce bias
in scientific literature, and to increase the overall quality and efficiency of the scientific process.

A major criticism of metatheory is that it is theory based on other theory.

Metamathematics

Main article: Metamathematics
See also: Metatheorem

Introduced in 20th-century philosophy as a result of the work of the German mathematician David Hilbert, who in 1905 published a proposal for proof of the consistency and completeness of mathematics, creating the topic of metamathematics. His hopes for the success of this proof were disappointed by the work of Kurt Gödel, who in 1931, used his incompleteness theorems to prove the goal of consistency and completeness to be unattainable. Nevertheless, his program of unsolved mathematical problems influenced mathematics for the rest of the 20th century.

A metatheorem is defined as: "a statement about theorems. It usually gives a criterion for getting a new theorem from an old one, either by changing its objects according to a rule" known as the duality principle, or by transferring it to another topic (e.g., from the theory of categories to the theory of groups) or to another context of the same topic (e.g., from linear transformations to matrices).[9]

Metalogic

Main article: Metalogic

Metalogic is the study of the metatheory of

deductive systems is the type that is known as proof theory
.

Metaphilosophy

Main article: Metaphilosophy

Metaphilosophy is "the investigation of the nature of philosophy".[10] Its subject matter includes the aims of philosophy, the boundaries of philosophy, and its methods.[11][12] Thus, while philosophy characteristically inquires into the nature of being, the reality of objects, the possibility of knowledge, the nature of truth, and so on, metaphilosophy is the self-referential inquiry into the nature, purposes, and methods of the activity that makes these kinds of inquiries, by asking what is philosophy itself, what sorts of questions it should ask, how it might pose and answer them, and what it can achieve in doing so. It is considered by some to be a topic prior and preparatory to philosophy,[13] while others see it as inherently a part of philosophy,[14] or automatically a part of philosophy[15] while others adopt some combination of these views.[11]

Sociology of sociology

Main article: Sociology of sociology

The sociology of sociology is a topic of sociology that combines social theories with analysis of the effect of socio-historical contexts in sociological intellectual production.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster, Definition of metatheory
  2. ^ Walter L. Wallace, Metatheory. In: Encyclopedia of Sociology, Encyclopedia.com
  3. ^ Ch. Mahmood Anwar, What is Metatheory? An easy explanation with example of Self determination theory, [1]
  4. ISBN 9780387967578
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-7391-8057-0
    .
  6. PMID 26431313
    .
  7. ^ Bach, Author Becky (8 December 2015). "On communicating science and uncertainty: A podcast with John Ioannidis". Scope. Retrieved 20 May 2019. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  8. S2CID 26361121
    .
  9. ^ Barile, Margherita. "Metatheorem." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource, created by Eric W. Weisstein. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Metatheorem.html
  10. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9973.1970.tb00792.x. see also the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article by Nicholas Joll: Contemporary Metaphilosophy
  11. ^ a b Nicholas Joll (November 18, 2010). "Contemporary Metaphilosophy". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP).
  12. ISBN 978-0203492796
    . Its primary question is "What is philosophy?"
  13. ISBN 978-0271044811
    .
  14. ISBN 978-0808403197
    .
  15. ISBN 978-0470695913
    . The philosophy of philosophy is automatically part of philosophy, just as the philosophy of anything else is...

External links
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