"Given that every theory has its limitations, we need to retain a multiplicity of theories to understand the world." Discuss this claim with reference to two areas of knowledge.

This essay title can be understood to mean that every theory includes its limitations; thus, because it is only needed one new fact/discovery to make us rethink a whole topic. Because of that, we would need multiple theories in order to diminish the uncertainty level and to better understand the world around us. Furthermore, the title mentions that a multiplicity of theories is necessary to understand the world, accentuating how complex the world is. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses, and facts. A theory in natural science is the speculative part of science, as opposed to the practice. It is a consistent system formed by observations, ideas, and axioms or postulates, constituting a set that tries to explain certain phenomena. The human sciences carry theories based on observation and inductive knowledge, and it is regarded more to what is 'probably' the truth rather than the 'factual' truth of natural sciences.

Moreover, the claim also mentions limitations. In this context, a limitation means that the knowledge produced using theories cannot be considered absolute truth because it does not explain the unknown. Therefore, we need to retain a multiplicity of theories in order to understand the world. In the natural sciences, multiple theories are required in order to understand the world. This because theories are limited on scope, so one single theory is not enough to understand the whole world. The theory of gravitation is a description of the long-range forces that electrically neutral bodies exert on one another because of their matter content. We could not live on Earth without gravity. The sun's gravity keeps Earth in orbit around it, keeping us at an appropriate distance to get enough sunlight and warmth. Although this theory allows us to understand something about the world, it is not enough to understand the whole world. Therefore, we would need other theories that would help us understand how we became what we are, for example. The theory of evolution by natural selection was first formulated by Charles Darwin. It is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits. It is vital for us to learn the theory of evolution in order to understand where we come from, and therefore develop your knowledge about the world.

On the contrary, we would not need to retain a multiplicity of theories in order to understand the world. This because of another limitation of scientific theories, the technology. In the past, technology was not as developed as nowadays, and yet scientists would make discoveries that would be accepted by society. Different theories in the natural sciences rely on the currently available knowledge that has been obtained through a particular way of data collection. With new technology, new datasets can be obtained that perhaps are not in line with previous theories. When technology improves, new datasets can be obtained, and these theories can be developed. Thus, it is not possible to retain a multiplicity of theories if they cannot yet exist. One example of how the change in technology has changed our knowledge about the world is in the creation of the microscope. The creation of the microscope has allowed medicine to develop and therefore understand better the chances of the human body, such as the development of diseases.

Depending on the scope of our investigation, it would not be necessary to retain a multiplicity of theories. If the scope of your investigation is limited only about physics, perhaps retaining the theory of gravity would be enough to understand the world. However, the world is too complex to be described by one single theory. When it comes to understand the world in the Natural Sciences, physics alone would not explain it all. We need to refer to theories on Biology and Chemistry as well. Therefore, it is necessary to retain a multiplicity of theories in order to understand the world better.

A similar thing would apply to the human sciences. Human Sciences are the study and interpretation of the experiences, activities, constructs, and artifacts associated with human beings. The study of the human sciences attempts to expand and enlighten the human being's knowledge of his or her existence, its interrelationship with other species and systems, and the development of artifacts to perpetuate the human expression and thought. In the human sciences, we still need to retain a multiplicity of theories in order to understand the world. The rational choice theory states that individuals use rational calculations to make rational choices and achieve outcomes that are aligned with their personal objectives. These results are also associated with an individual's best self-interests. Using rational choice theory is expected to result in outcomes that provide people with the most significant benefit and satisfaction, given the choices they have available. The human sciences apply its method to human behavior. Human behavior varies because of several factors, such as cultural background, family situations, and even different mindsets. So, it is not very easy to create a method that applies to all humans. Therefore, human sciences deal with many limitations. Those limitations make the theories uncertain, and that justifies the need to retain a multiplicity of theories.

On the other hand, retaining only one theory in order to understand the world could work in the human sciences. Since human behavior plays a crucial role in the Human Sciences, it is possible that a single theory about the way humans behave is enough to understand the world. The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion states that stimulating events trigger feelings and physical reactions that occur at the same time. Cannon-Bard proposes that both of these reactions originate simultaneously in the thalamus. This is a small brain structure responsible for receiving sensory information. It relays it to the appropriate area of the brain for processing. Cannon-Bard can be applied to any event or experience that causes an emotional reaction. The emotion can be positive or negative. For example, when you have the very first job interview of your life. You might feel stressed, and the stress can lead to physical sensations such as tremors or rapid heartbeats. As this theory relates to human behavior, retaining only that theory might make sense for someone who can relate to the subject. Therefore there would not be needed the retaining of a multiplicity of theories in order to understand the world.

Human behavior is a limitation in the human sciences. Because of that, different theories can apply to different people. This also includes the fact that people follow different ideologies, and therefore believe in different theories. Often believing, in theory, can mean that it makes sense to you, or that you relate to what is being said. This does not mean that every person should follow the same idea as you. Therefore, in order to understand the world and other people, it is essential that you retain a multiplicity of theories.

In conclusion, both in the Natural and the Human sciences will require a multiplicity of theories to understand the world. The natural sciences consist of the combination of the three sciences: physics, chemistry, and biology. Furthermore, science is entirely dependent on technology and vice versa. This means that science depends on several theories to evolve and develop new theories. Therefore, it is implausible that theory alone can explain the complexity of the world. In the Human Sciences, the limitations are directly connected with the number of theories needed to understand the world. The scope is also important for this. It is possible that just by making sense, a theory is enough for one single person to understand the world. However, looking at a society where people from different cultures are mixed; it is very likely that a single theory is not enough for people following different ideologies to understand the world.