3 ms·

Yes, you can. If the theory is well-formulated, rests on vetted facts, and you understand the context sufficiently, you can say: "This is a good theory." If it

Yes, you can. If the theory is well-formulated, rests on vetted facts, and you understand the context sufficiently, you can say: "This is a good theory." If it's not well-formulated or does not rest vetted facts, and your understanding is sufficent, you can say: "Bad theory." There's an entire world of variation between those 2 extremes, but there's no reason implicitly why you can't understand a theory just by reading about it.

amelius 3y ago
Only true if collecting "vetted facts" is considered to be just reading and not doing hard, real work.
- flangola7 3y ago
  Give examples
- ryanklee 3y ago
  Totally wrong. If the goal is to evaluate a theory's virtues, there's nothing stopping you if you have access to the correct documentation (provided it exists). Not sure what you think is missing.
  - amelius 3y ago
    We're talking about new theories here, not well-accepted theories.
    - ryanklee 3y ago
      Not correct. "You can't judge a theory just by reading about it."
    - ryanklee 3y ago
      Not correct. "You can't judge a theory just by reading about it." Also, can't see why it should matter one way or the other.