In the Beginning was Information

aspects are not covered. Models are important because of theirillustrativeness. A model is a deliberate but simplified representationof reality and it describes observed structures in a readilyunderstandable way. It is possible to have more than one model fora given reality, and, because it is by nature provisional and simple,any model can always be improved upon.Theory (Greek theoría = view, consideration, investigation): Theoriesendeavour to explain facts in a unified representation of modelsand hypotheses. To put it briefly, a theory is a scientific statementbased on empirical findings. Since empirical results are seldomfinal, theories are of a provisional nature, and the inherenthypothetical element inevitably causes uncertainty – in the bestcase a statement can be made in terms of specific probabilities.Theories are therefore a means of tying observed facts together,and the best theories are those which attain this objective with theleast number of inconsistencies.Hypothesis (Greek hypóthesis = assumption, conjecture, supposition):A hypothesis is an unverified scientific conjecture whichcontains speculations, and which amplifies an incomplete empiricalresult, or provisionally explains some fact. Any new hypothesismust be based on facts, and it may not contradict the known lawsof nature. If a hypothesis serves as a methodological guide when anew research project is undertaken, it is known as a workinghypothesis. When observational facts support a hypothesis, theprobability of its being true is increased, but if ONE contradictingfact is uncovered, the hypothesis must be rejected (falsification).As early as the 17th century Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662) said thatwe could be certain that a hypothesis is false if ONE SINGLEderived relationship contradicts any observed phenomenon.Paradigm (Greek parádeigma = example, sample): When a certaintheory (or a system of hypotheses, or a world-view) pervadesentire fields of research or an entire scientific era, it is known as aparadigm. Such a view then dictates the scope for specificresearches and delineates the presuppositions used for explainingindividual phenomena. If a system of hypotheses has been derivedfrom presuppositions dictated by a world-view, it usually cannot bereconciled with the available facts. Typical examples are geocen-23