A metatheory or meta-theory is a theory on a subject matter that is a theory in itself. Analyses or descriptions of an existing theory would be considered meta-theories. If the subject matter of a theoretical statement consists of one or multiple theories, it would also be called a meta-theory. For mathematics and mathematical logic, a metatheory is a mathematical theory about another mathematical theory. Meta-theoretical investigations are part of the philosophy of science. 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
Metascience is the use of scientific method to study science itself. Metascience is an attempt to increase the quality of scientific research while reducing wasted activity; it uses 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". As stated by John Ioannidis, "Science is the best thing that has happened to human beings ... but we can do it better."
In 1966, an early meta-research paper examined the statistical methods of 295 papers published in ten well-known medical journals. It found that, "in almost 73% of the reports read ... conclusions were drawn when the justification for these conclusions was invalid". Meta-research during the ensuing decades found many methodological flaws, inefficiencies, and bad practices in the research of numerous scientific topics. Many scientific studies could not be reproduced, particularly those involving medicine and the so-called soft sciences. The term "replication crisis" was invented during the early 2010s as part of an increasing awareness of the problem.
Measures have been implemented to address the issues revealed by metascience. These measures include the pre-registration of scientific studies and clinical trials as well as the founding of organizations such as CONSORT and the EQUATOR Network that issue guidelines for methods and reporting. There are continuing efforts to reduce the misuse of statistics, to eliminate perverse incentives from academia, to improve 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
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).
Metalogic
Metalogic is the study of the metatheory of logic. Whereas logic is the study of how logical systems can be used to construct valid and sound arguments, metalogic studies the properties of logical systems. Logic concerns the truths that may be derived using a logical system; metalogic concerns the truths that may be derived about the languages and systems that are used to express truths. The basic objects of metalogical study are formal languages, formal systems, and their interpretations. The study of interpretation of formal systems is the type of mathematical logic that is known as model theory, and the study of deductive systems is the type that is known as proof theory.
Metaphilosophy
Metaphilosophy is "the investigation of the nature of philosophy". Its subject matter includes the aims of philosophy, the boundaries of philosophy, and its methods. 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, while others see it as inherently a part of philosophy, or automatically a part of philosophy while others adopt some combination of these views.
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
- Meta-emotion
- Metacognition
- Metahistory (concept)
- Metaknowledge
- Metalanguage
- Metalearning
- Metamemory
- Meta-ontology
- Philosophy of social science
References
- Merriam-Webster, Definition of metatheory
- Walter L. Wallace, Metatheory. In: Encyclopedia of Sociology, Encyclopedia.com
- Ch. Mahmood Anwar, What is Metatheory? An easy explanation with example of Self determination theory, [1]
- Baker, W. J.; Mos, Leendert P.; Rappard, Hans V.; Stam, Henderikus J. (2012). Recent Trends in Theoretical Psychology: Proceedings of the Second Biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology, April 20–25, 1987, Banff, Alberta, Canada. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 9780387967578.
- Haas, Emily J.; Mattson, Marifran (2015). Metatheory and Interviewing: Harm Reduction and Motorcycle Safety in Practice. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-7391-8057-0.
- Ioannidis, John P. A.; Fanelli, Daniele; Dunne, Debbie Drake; Goodman, Steven N. (2015-10-02). "Meta-research: Evaluation and Improvement of Research Methods and Practices". PLOS Biology. 13 (10): –1002264. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002264. ISSN 1545-7885. PMC 4592065. PMID 26431313.
- 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) - Pashler, Harold; Wagenmakers, Eric Jan (2012). "Editors' Introduction to the Special Section on Replicability in Psychological Science: A Crisis of Confidence?". Perspectives on Psychological Science. 7 (6): 528–530. doi:10.1177/1745691612465253. PMID 26168108. S2CID 26361121.
- Barile, Margherita. "Metatheorem." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource, created by Eric W. Weisstein. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Metatheorem.html
- Lazerowitz, M. (1970). "A note on "metaphilosophy"". Metaphilosophy. 1 (1): 91. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9973.1970.tb00792.x. see also the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article by Nicholas Joll: Contemporary Metaphilosophy
- Nicholas Joll (November 18, 2010). "Contemporary Metaphilosophy". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP).
- Armen T Marsoobian (2004). "Metaphilosophy". In John Lachs; Robert Talisse (eds.). American Philosophy: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. pp. 500–501. ISBN 978-0203492796.
Its primary question is "What is philosophy?"
- See for example, Charles L. Griswold Jr. (2010). Platonic Writings/Platonic Readings. Penn State Press. pp. 144–146. ISBN 978-0271044811.
- Martin Heidegger (1956). Was Ist Das – die Philosophie?. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 21. ISBN 978-0808403197.
- Timothy Williamson (2008). "Preface". The Philosophy of Philosophy. John Wiley & Sons. p. ix. 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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Media related to Metatheory at Wikimedia Commons- Meta-theoretical Issues (2003), Lyle Flint
A metatheory or meta theory is a theory on a subject matter that is a theory in itself Analyses or descriptions of an existing theory would be considered meta theories If the subject matter of a theoretical statement consists of one or multiple theories it would also be called a meta theory For mathematics and mathematical logic a metatheory is a mathematical theory about another mathematical theory Meta theoretical investigations are part of the philosophy of science 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 metatheoriesMetascience Metascience is the use of scientific method to study science itself Metascience is an attempt to increase the quality of scientific research while reducing wasted activity it uses 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 As stated by John Ioannidis Science is the best thing that has happened to human beings but we can do it better In 1966 an early meta research paper examined the statistical methods of 295 papers published in ten well known medical journals It found that in almost 73 of the reports read conclusions were drawn when the justification for these conclusions was invalid Meta research during the ensuing decades found many methodological flaws inefficiencies and bad practices in the research of numerous scientific topics Many scientific studies could not be reproduced particularly those involving medicine and the so called soft sciences The term replication crisis was invented during the early 2010s as part of an increasing awareness of the problem Measures have been implemented to address the issues revealed by metascience These measures include the pre registration of scientific studies and clinical trials as well as the founding of organizations such as CONSORT and the EQUATOR Network that issue guidelines for methods and reporting There are continuing efforts to reduce the misuse of statistics to eliminate perverse incentives from academia to improve 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 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 Godel 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 Metalogic Metalogic is the study of the metatheory of logic Whereas logic is the study of how logical systems can be used to construct valid and sound arguments metalogic studies the properties of logical systems Logic concerns the truths that may be derived using a logical system metalogic concerns the truths that may be derived about the languages and systems that are used to express truths The basic objects of metalogical study are formal languages formal systems and their interpretations The study of interpretation of formal systems is the type of mathematical logic that is known as model theory and the study of deductive systems is the type that is known as proof theory Metaphilosophy Metaphilosophy is the investigation of the nature of philosophy Its subject matter includes the aims of philosophy the boundaries of philosophy and its methods 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 while others see it as inherently a part of philosophy or automatically a part of philosophy while others adopt some combination of these views 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 alsoMeta emotion Metacognition Metahistory concept Metaknowledge Metalanguage Metalearning Metamemory Meta ontology Philosophy of social scienceReferencesMerriam Webster Definition of metatheory Walter L Wallace Metatheory In Encyclopedia of Sociology Encyclopedia com Ch Mahmood Anwar What is Metatheory An easy explanation with example of Self determination theory 1 Baker W J Mos Leendert P Rappard Hans V Stam Henderikus J 2012 Recent Trends in Theoretical Psychology Proceedings of the Second Biannual Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology April 20 25 1987 Banff Alberta Canada New York Springer Verlag ISBN 9780387967578 Haas Emily J Mattson Marifran 2015 Metatheory and Interviewing Harm Reduction and Motorcycle Safety in Practice Lanham MD Lexington Books p 11 ISBN 978 0 7391 8057 0 Ioannidis John P A Fanelli Daniele Dunne Debbie Drake Goodman Steven N 2015 10 02 Meta research Evaluation and Improvement of Research Methods and Practices PLOS Biology 13 10 1002264 doi 10 1371 journal pbio 1002264 ISSN 1545 7885 PMC 4592065 PMID 26431313 Bach Author Becky 8 December 2015 On communicating science and uncertainty A podcast with John Ioannidis Scope Retrieved 20 May 2019 a href wiki Template Cite web title Template Cite web cite web a first1 has generic name help Pashler Harold Wagenmakers Eric Jan 2012 Editors Introduction to the Special Section on Replicability in Psychological Science A Crisis of Confidence Perspectives on Psychological Science 7 6 528 530 doi 10 1177 1745691612465253 PMID 26168108 S2CID 26361121 Barile Margherita Metatheorem From MathWorld A Wolfram Web Resource created by Eric W Weisstein http mathworld wolfram com Metatheorem html Lazerowitz M 1970 A note on metaphilosophy Metaphilosophy 1 1 91 doi 10 1111 j 1467 9973 1970 tb00792 x see also the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article by Nicholas Joll Contemporary Metaphilosophy Nicholas Joll November 18 2010 Contemporary Metaphilosophy Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy IEP Armen T Marsoobian 2004 Metaphilosophy In John Lachs Robert Talisse eds American Philosophy An Encyclopedia Taylor amp Francis pp 500 501 ISBN 978 0203492796 Its primary question is What is philosophy See for example Charles L Griswold Jr 2010 Platonic Writings Platonic Readings Penn State Press pp 144 146 ISBN 978 0271044811 Martin Heidegger 1956 Was Ist Das die Philosophie Rowman amp Littlefield p 21 ISBN 978 0808403197 Timothy Williamson 2008 Preface The Philosophy of Philosophy John Wiley amp Sons p ix ISBN 978 0470695913 The philosophy of philosophy is automatically part of philosophy just as the philosophy of anything else is External linksMedia related to Metatheory at Wikimedia Commons Meta theoretical Issues 2003 Lyle Flint
