theory Copy link Outline 1. rătio (prob. the best and most freq. equiv.)2. ars, tis, f. (in its proper sense it includes both t. and practice, but it may be used to expr. the former only3. scientia (knowledge)4. artĭfĭcium (system)5. rătiŏcĭnātio6. theōria, theōrice, ēs, f. • theory: 1. rătio (prob. the best and most freq. equiv.): either t., or practice without t., vel r., vel sine ratione ipsa exercitatio, Cic. de Or. 3, 24, 93: the t. and practice of war, r. atque usus belli, Caes. B. G. 4, 1. 2. ars, tis, f. (in its proper sense it includes both t. and practice, but it may be used to expr. the former only: the context or the antithesis determines the sense): it seems to me a splendid thing in practice but a poor one in t., res mihi videtur facultate praeclara, arte mediocris, Cic. de Or. 2, 7, 30: nor is it enough to possess virtue as a t. without putting it into practice, nec habere virtutem satis, quasi a. aliquam, nisi utare, id. Rep. 1, 2. 3. scientia (knowledge): t. and practice, s. atque usus, Caes. B. G. 2, 20: Cic. de Or. 3, 29, 112. [N.B.--There is a freq. contrast between ratio, ars, scientia, or even doctrina (Cic. de Or. 1, 48, 208), in the sense of t., and exercitatio, facultas, usus, prudentia, which denote practice. If ars is opp. to ratio it means practice: as, sine ulla arte aut ratione, without any practice or t., Cic. de Or. 3, 50, 195: hence the expr. ars rationalis (= t.) in Cels. praef.] 4. artĭfĭcium (system): Cic. de Or. 1, 32, 146. 5. rătiŏcĭnātio: Vitr. 1, 1, 15 (opp. to fabrica). 6. theōria, theōrice, ēs, f.: Hier. Phr.: in t. perhaps less acquainted with it than I could wish, in experience and practice even more than I could desire, in studio minus fortasse quam vellem, in rebus atque usu plus etiam quam vellem versatus, Cic. Fam. 6, 10, 5: a general t. of all moral duty, conformatio omnium officiorum, id. Fin. 5, 6, 15.