Against Theory: Cognitive Gravity Wells and How They Hamper Progress

Against Theory: Cognitive Gravity Wells and How They Hamper Progress challenges the long-standing assumption that theory is always the engine of intellectual progress. In this provocative work, Babu George argues that in many rapidly evolving domains, such as artificial intelligence, technology, and certain areas of social science, rigid theoretical frameworks can become "cognitive gravity wells," trapping scholars within dominant paradigms and discouraging exploratory thinking. Drawing on examples from scientific history, technological innovation, and institutional research culture, the book examines how theories can unintentionally slow discovery by narrowing imagination and reinforcing intellectual conformity. Rather than rejecting theory entirely, Against Theory invites readers to rethink its role, proposing a more experimental, adaptive approach to knowledge creation in fields where reality evolves faster than theory can keep up.