Combining Theories
- Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis
- When there are competing theories, there are often lots of arguments
between camps.
- This can be productive when both sides keep an open mind.
- People can begin to see the problems with their theories.
- This can include gaps, and can lead to good experiments.
- Example, syntax first parsing vs. semantics first parsing.
- Eventually, people mightn see that both theories have merit and
flaws.
- This can lead to a synthesis, an improved theory that combines
the best of both.
- (Parallel access to semantics and syntax.)
