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Theory and practice sometimes clash. And when that happens, theory loses. Every single time.
--
Torvalds, Linus (2009-03-25). Message to Linux kernel mailing list. Retrieved on 2009-03-25.
--
Notes: from NOTES topic of open(2) manpage (2009-04-13).

 

Linus Torvalds

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Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis: you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory. On the other hand, you can disprove a theory by finding even a single observation that disagrees with the predictions of the theory. As philosopher of science Karl Popper has emphasized, a good theory is characterized by the fact that it makes a number of predictions that could in principle be disproved or falsified by observation. Each time new experiments are observed to agree with the predictions the theory survives, and our confidence in it is increased; but if ever a new observation is found to disagree, we have to abandon or modify the theory.

 

Stephen Hawking

 

The theory of Union of Civilizations can be discussed along with the theory of The Clash of Civilizations by Huntington or the idea of Dialogue Among Civilizations. This theory concerns the future of civilizations and the solutions to the cultural and religious problems of the world today, and considers this union the foundation of a universal comprehensive civilization. Due to this theory, the selfishness of the governments is destructive; on the other hand, avoiding the separation of cultures and focusing on globalization and universality are emphasized. In this proposal, the way to achieve this globalization and universality is not the clash or negotiation of different civilizations, but their unification as well as their cultural and religious interaction.

 

Elia M. Ramollah

 

At the center of the discussion of the nature of practical theology is the issue of the relation of theory to praxis. If theory precedes and determines practice, then practice tends to be concerned primarily with methods, techniques and strategies for ministry, lacking theological substance. If practice takes priority over theory, ministry tends to be based on pragmatic results rather than prophetic revelation … Barth, from the beginning, resisted all attempts to portray theory and praxis in opposition to one another. In his early Church Dogmatics he described any distinction between “theoretical” and “practical” as a “primal lie, which has to be resisted in principal”. The understanding of Christ as the light of life can be understood only as a “theory which has its origin and goal in praxis”.

 

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The story of a theory's failure often strikes readers as sad and unsatisfying. Since science thrives on self-correction, we who practice this most challenging of human arts do not share such a feeling. We may be unhappy if a favored hypothesis loses or chagrined if theories that we proposed prove inadequate. But refutation almost always contains positive lessons that overwhelm disappointment, even when […] no new and comprehensive theory has yet filled the void.

 

Stephen Jay Gould

 

"In sum: banking theory and practice, as immobilizing and fixating forces, fail to acknowledge men and women as historical beings; problem-posing theory and practice take the people's historicity as their starting point."

 

Paulo Freire