but isn't that exactly the process by which one obtains knowledge about a subject? i.e. i don't know much about X, i propose theory Y that may explain part of i

but isn't that exactly the process by which one obtains knowledge about a subject? i.e. i don't know much about X, i propose theory Y that may explain part of it, i test theory Y to see if it holds, if it does, i now know more about X, namely that Y explains it.