Astronomy and Cosmology

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

Page 76

9. ASTRONOMICAL THEORY
1. Introduction
Albert Einstein, in an article, distinguished between various types of theories in physics127. Some of these theories could be specified as principle theories and other could be recognized as constructive theories. The physical theories of astronomy also fall under this demarcation.
PRINCIPLE THEORIES
The principle theories employ the analytic method. Their basic elements are not constructed hypothetically ab initio. They are rather empirically discovered. The basic concepts and principles form general characteristic of natural processes. They give rise to mathematically formulated criteria which is required to be satisfied by the separate processes or their theoretical representations. These theories are logically perfect and have a secured foundation. However, if a single principle fails or if a single inconistency arises, the whole structure has to be remodelled because, then it is next to impossible to retain its originality. Thus the principles herein are required to be powerfully supported by experience and should be reconciliable logically.
CONSTRUCTIVE THEORIES
The constructive theories, on the other hand, follow the synthetic method. One has to try to find out a simple and formal scheme to construct a representation of more complex phenomena. If it is possible to understand a group of natural phenomena, through this, it may be regarded as the success of the constructive theory. These theories could be made complete, clear and adaptable, and could be subjected to remodelling without shattering the complete edifice.
127 Vid. “What is the Theory of Relativity ?, from
London, 1956, 227-232.
Ideas and Opinions,
57