This reminds me of a couple of Joseph Conrad novels (Chance and Nostromo) that describe a primary female character as being “without theory” or something like that, always juxtaposed against other characters that are engaged in well-meaning but ill-fated grandiose ideological endeavors that blind them to the reality within their own home. The female character who is described as without “theory” by contrast is devoid of grand ambition except to lift and heal and love others within her immediate circle (whether large or small). This seems to represent Conrad’s moral worldview - skepticism of the power of (masculine, for Conrad) rationalist schemes and lauding a more simple (and more feminine, at least for Conrad) interpersonal hospitality.
I would be careful about abandoning theory. Theory basically just means a plan with principles for people to rally around. If you don’t have a theory you will be ruled by someone else’s theory. That’s why conservatives (at least the sort whose only plan is “not that!” or “slow down!”) will always lose.
I would say we should distinguish between a theory and a plan - one is driven by intellectual conceit and the other needn't exhibit such. I can have a plan for dinner, and it needn't have a drop of theory about food.
This reminds me of a couple of Joseph Conrad novels (Chance and Nostromo) that describe a primary female character as being “without theory” or something like that, always juxtaposed against other characters that are engaged in well-meaning but ill-fated grandiose ideological endeavors that blind them to the reality within their own home. The female character who is described as without “theory” by contrast is devoid of grand ambition except to lift and heal and love others within her immediate circle (whether large or small). This seems to represent Conrad’s moral worldview - skepticism of the power of (masculine, for Conrad) rationalist schemes and lauding a more simple (and more feminine, at least for Conrad) interpersonal hospitality.
I would be careful about abandoning theory. Theory basically just means a plan with principles for people to rally around. If you don’t have a theory you will be ruled by someone else’s theory. That’s why conservatives (at least the sort whose only plan is “not that!” or “slow down!”) will always lose.
I would say we should distinguish between a theory and a plan - one is driven by intellectual conceit and the other needn't exhibit such. I can have a plan for dinner, and it needn't have a drop of theory about food.