- Concept: A
concept is an abstraction or generalization from experience or the
result of a transformation of existing concepts. The concept reifies all
of its actual or potential instances whether these are things in the real
world or other ideas.
Concepts are treated in many if not most disciplines whether explicitly
such as in psychology, philosophy,
etc. or implicitly such as in mathematics,
physics,
etc. In metaphysics, and especially ontology,
a concept is a fundamental category of existence. In contemporary philosophy, there are at
least three prevailing ways to understand what a concept is Concepts as mental
representations, where concepts are entities
that exist in the brain.
- Concepts as abilities,
where concepts are abilities peculiar to cognitive agents.
- Concepts as abstract objects, where objects are the constituents of propositions that mediate between thought, language, and referents.
A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be
desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the
laws observed in nature or the way that a system is constructed. The principles
of such a system are understood by its users as the essential characteristics
of the system, or reflecting system's designed purpose, and the effective
operation or use of which would be impossible if any one of the principles was
to be ignored.[1]
Examples of principles:
- Descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law,
doctrine, or assumption
- Normative rule or code of conduct
- Law or fact of nature underlying the working of an
artificial device
Theory is a contemplative and rational type of abstract
or generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking. Depending on the context,
the results might for example include generalized explanations of how nature works. The word has its roots in ancient
Greek, but in modern use it has taken on several different related
meanings. A theory is not the same as a hypothesis.
A theory provides an explanatory framework for some observation, and from the
assumptions of the explanation follows a number of possible hypotheses that can
be tested in order to provide support for, or challenge, the theory.
A theory can be normative (or prescriptive),[1]
meaning a postulation about what ought to be. It provides "goals, norms,
and standards".[2]
A theory can be a body of knowledge, which may or may not be
associated with particular explanatory models. To theorize is to develop this
body of knowledge.