a foundational theory of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a foundational theory of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a fundamental concept or principle that serves as the basis for a particular field or subject. Example: "The study of evolution is built upon a foundational theory of natural selection."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But the lack of a foundational theory of history undermines the explanatory power of "The Unwinding," just as it undermines the power and effectiveness of modern politics more generally.

The New York Times - Books

The second type of theory, that we can label a foundational theory of word meaning, is interested in singling out the facts whereby lexical expressions come to have the semantic properties they have for their users.

SEP

If all these cardinals were available across the board courtesy of Hume's Principle applied to appropriately expressed concepts, then Wright would be proposing a foundational theory of enormous strength.

SEP

A framework investigating the dynamics of linguistic change and social coordination in virtue of which the word 'bachelor' has been assigned the function of expressing the lexical concept adult unmarried male would be an example of a foundational theory of word meaning.

SEP

This article develops theoretical understanding of the involvement of wealthy entrepreneurs in socially transformative projects by offering a foundational theory of philanthropic identity narratives.

Human Relations

First, in the pre-paradigmatic field where entrepreneurship intersects with philanthropy (Nicholls, 2006; Taylor et al., 2014), our article develops theoretical and empirical understanding of the involvement of wealthy entrepreneurs in socially transformative projects by offering a foundational theory of philanthropic identity narratives (Dees, 1998; Dees and Anderson, 2006; Taylor et al., 2014).

Human Relations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But even the simple theory of types eventually fell out of favor as a foundational theory for mathematics possibly because in the wake of the Byzantine ramified theory, no version of type theory could find favor among mathematicians themselves.

SEP

If this sort of skepticism about meaning is correct, then there is neither a true semantic theory nor a true foundational theory of meaning to be found, since the relevant sort of facts simply are not around to be described or analyzed.

SEP

Set theory has come to play the role of a foundational theory in modern mathematics, in the sense that it interprets propositions about mathematical objects (for example, numbers and functions) from all the traditional areas of mathematics (such as algebra, analysis and topology) in a single theory, and provides a standard set of axioms to prove or disprove them.

Wikipedia

In particular, one would like to obtain a foundational theory compatible with those contexts (e.g. categorical models of set theory) in which even these weaker principles of choice may not be validated.

SEP

A different way to develop a non-mentalist foundational theory of meaning focuses less on relations between subsentential expressions or sentences and bits of non-linguistic reality and more on the regularities which govern our use of language.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a foundational theory of", ensure that the theory you are referring to genuinely serves as a basis for further development or understanding in the specific context. The term implies a critical and fundamental role.

Common error

Avoid using "a foundational theory of" when the theory in question is merely influential or significant, but not genuinely the base upon which other concepts are built. Overusing the term diminishes its impact and may mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a foundational theory of" functions as a noun modifier, specifically as an adjectival phrase specifying the type or nature of the theory being discussed. It indicates that the theory is fundamental and serves as a basis for further understanding or development. This is supported by Ludwig AI's identification of the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

66.66%

News & Media

16.66%

Formal & Business

16.66%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a foundational theory of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a theory that serves as a fundamental basis for a particular field or concept. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage in formal, academic, and scientific contexts. While versatile, it is more appropriate for formal writing and should be used judiciously to avoid overstating the importance of a theory. Alternatives like "a fundamental theory of" or "a basic theory of" may be more suitable in informal settings. The phrase is most frequently found in scientific and academic literature, emphasizing its role in establishing core principles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a cornerstone theory of

Replaces 'foundational' with 'cornerstone', emphasizing the essential and indispensable nature of the theory.

a fundamental theory of

Substitutes 'foundational' with 'fundamental', highlighting the basic and central character of the theory.

a basic theory of

Replaces 'foundational' with 'basic', suggesting a simple, underlying theory.

an underlying theory of

Uses 'underlying' instead of 'foundational' to point out a less visible but fundamental theory.

a central theory of

Replaces 'foundational' with 'central', focusing on the theory's importance and position within the field.

a primary theory of

Replaces 'foundational' with 'primary', indicating that the theory is first in order of importance or development.

a core theory of

Substitutes 'foundational' with 'core', suggesting that the theory is the essential or most important part.

a ground theory of

Uses 'ground' in place of 'foundational', indicating the basis or foundation upon which something rests.

a fundamental principle of

Changes 'theory' to 'principle', representing a basic truth or law that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.

an elementary theory of

Replaces 'foundational' with 'elementary', highlighting the initial or simplest aspects of a theory.

FAQs

How can I use "a foundational theory of" in a sentence?

You can use "a foundational theory of" to introduce a fundamental concept or principle that underpins a particular field or subject. For instance, "Quantum mechanics provides "a foundational theory of" atomic and subatomic phenomena".

What are some alternatives to "a foundational theory of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a fundamental theory of", "a cornerstone theory of", or "a basic theory of depending on the context".

Is it appropriate to use "a foundational theory of" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a foundational theory of" is more suited to formal and academic writing. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "a basic theory of" or "the basis of" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "a foundational theory of" and "a key theory of"?

"A foundational theory of" implies that the theory serves as the base or groundwork for further development, while "a key theory of" suggests that the theory is important or significant, but not necessarily the base upon which everything else is built.