Theories as systems

The central claim of this paper is that theories themselves qualify for definition as systems. Part 1 follows a progression of definitions of system, attempting to end with a relatively sophisticated definition which nonetheless retains the basic intuitive characteristic of structure. Part 2 outlines the definition of theory that I am using (which must be seen as a qualification of the central claim), namely the ‘structuralist’ view of Sneed and Stegmuller. Part 3 relates the definitions arrived at in the preceding parts, to arrive at the aforementioned conclusion. It goes on to discuss some of the implications of this position.