Ideology vs. Theory — What's the Difference?

A guiding doctrine or set of values.

A conjecture or hypothesis tested through observation or experimentation.

The theoretical basis of a political or social system.

A structured set of principles explaining interrelated concepts.

An integrated set of beliefs shaping worldview.

An explanation based on evidence and reasoning.

A perspective or bias influencing perceptions.

A systematic framework for understanding a phenomenon.

A system of beliefs or principles.

A model to predict future events or behaviors.

An ideology (/ˌʌɪdɪˈɒlədʒi/) is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons, especially as held for reasons that are not purely epistemic, in which "practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones." Formerly applied primarily to economic, political, or religious theories and policies, in a tradition going back to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, more recent use treats the term as mainly condemnatory.The term was coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy, a French Enlightenment aristocrat and philosopher, who conceived it in 1796 as the "science of ideas" to develop a rational system of ideas to oppose the irrational impulses of the mob. In political science, the term is used in a descriptive sense to refer to political belief systems.

A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research.

A set of doctrines or beliefs that are shared by the members of a social group or that form the basis of a political, economic, or other system.

A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Doctrine, philosophy, body of beliefs or principles belonging to an individual or group.

The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice

(uncountable) The study of the origin and nature of ideas.

A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics.

The science of ideas.

Abstract reasoning; speculation

A theory of the origin of ideas which derives them exclusively from sensation.

A belief or principle that guides action or assists comprehension or judgment

A set or system of theories and beliefs held by an individual or group, especially about sociopolitical goals and methods to attain them; in common usage, ideology is such a set of beliefs so strongly held by their adherents as to cause them to ignore evidence against such beliefs, and thus fall into error - in this sense it is viewed as a negative trait; contrasted to pragmatism, and distinct from idealism.

An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

An orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation

A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.

Imaginary or visionary theorization

(sciences) A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.

(uncountable) The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.

(mathematics) A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.

A hypothesis or conjecture.

A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them; or, a set of statements which are deductively closed. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems). The statements may be required to all be bound (i.e., to have no free variables).

A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation.

An exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science; as, the theory of music.

The science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and practice of medicine.

The philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of moral sentiments.

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena;

A tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena;

A belief that can guide behavior;

No, Theories can evolve or change based on new evidence or insights.

An Ideology is based on beliefs and values and is subjective, so it isn't typically "proven" like a scientific Theory.

A Theory is a well-substantiated explanation based on evidence, while an Ideology is a set of guiding beliefs or values.

Ideologies shape behaviors, decision-making, and societal structures by providing a guiding set of beliefs or values.

An Ideology is a system of beliefs, values, or principles guiding actions and perceptions.

Not necessarily. Theories are based on current evidence and can be revised or disproven with new findings.

While distinct, an Ideology can be informed or influenced by a Theory, but they serve different purposes.

Theories provide frameworks for understanding, explaining, and predicting phenomena based on evidence.