In what ways does theory help us to make sense of the world?

Answer 1

We are hard-wired by evolution to look for causation, for the reason things happen. That gives us an edge over other animals who just take whatever comes. We can avoid harm and find ways to improve our lives through this process. All of the elements of our present level of human development, science, medicine, technology, control of the environment, is due to someone developing a "theory," a "what would happen if we did this?" idea.

Answer 2

The problem with doing things in practice is that they have practical consequences. For example you may be able to calculate mathematically the breaking point of a support beam for a road bridge so that you can make the support stronger than its breaking point, but you would not want to find out in practice by building the bridge with a weak support to prove that it will fall. Theory saves you from the consequences of a practical test.