Mismatch between theory and practical reality

Social initiatives may be undertaken, based on apparently coherent theoretical propositions, that in practice have significant negative consequences in society. Those committed to such propositions then argue that such consequences will diminish over time. The merit of such arguments may be unclear when the time scales are such as to be a significant proportion of the life times of those disadvantaged by the initiatives.

1. Governments arrogantly assume that they can control their economies and that they can dictate the value of their currencies. Speculators correctly assume that this is not a sustainable policy. As with the controversy over protectionism, a commitment is made to a plausible theoretical proposition which in practice is shown to penalize employment, working standards and the obvious well-being of the public. Although theory suggests that these difficulties are temporary and that eventually all will benefit to a greater degree than before, it is unclear exactly when such benefits will manifest.

2. Logical delirium, a speciality of the second-rate mind, is the humourless application of irrelevant theory to uncomprehended reality.

3. Progress does not consist in replacing a theory that is wrong with one that is right. It consists in replacing a theory than is wrong with one that is more subtly wrong.

4. The number of different hypotheses erected to explain a given phenomenon is inversely proportional to the available knowledge.

5. A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. (Rabindranath Tagore).

1. The bigger the theory, the better.

1. Irrationalism
2. Inadequate models of socio-economic development
3. Haphazard transmission of practical technology
4. Gap between industry and the universities

1. Unconvincing alternatives to existing societies

1. Unrealistic policies
2. Social hardships of economic reform
3. Practical teamwork difficulty
4. Policy shock
5. Incompatibility of environmental and economic decision-making

1. Substitution of fantasy for reality
2. Reinforced parochialism of internal values and images
3. Non-acceptance of reality
4. Inappropriate understanding of progress
5. Complex curriculum writing

1. Misguided advocacy of fashionable values
2. Inadequate environmental impact assessment

1. Using logical framework approach for project planning
2. Uncovering fallacies of logic
3. Reasoning defectively
4. Matching theory and practical reality
5. Extending logic
6. Depending on theory
7. Advocating fashionable theories
8. Achieving logical cultural integration

1. Overcommitment
2. Mismatch
3. Misguidance