Theory as Answer vs. Theory as Question

We call the old theory "theory as answer", by which we mean it attempts to take a preconceived conceptual framework, and impose that framework on any particular concrete situation, whether that situation is political economic / symbolic communicative / or bio-ecological in nature.

This is problematic under any circumstances. But it is especially inappropriate and inadequate for life in a globalized world.

Put simply, the almost infinite variety of problems and issues we confront today is simply too large for any "single" explanatory framework to account for.

Theory as answer may be able to explain SOME situations - but it will clearly not be able to explain others. And those "other" situations are often just as - if not more - important as the situations any "answer" may be able to explain.

It's not that theory as answer is "wrong," although often it is ;-) - but it IS radically in-complete.

That's why today’s society demands a NEW kind of theory, one able to help us deal with the infinite variety of concrete situations we confront daily.
The purpose of theory as question, therefore, is to sensitize the observer to the internal structural dynamics of any specific concrete situation – whatever the nature of that situation.

It is about finding structural similarities and differences among concrete situations at the same time.

It helps people recognize the fact that there are always going to be similarities and differences between any concrete situations,
and helps them see what's similar in specific situations, without blinding them to the differences.