机上論

Japanese

Kanji in this term
机	上	論
き Grade: 6	じょう Grade: 1	ろん Grade: 6
on'yomi

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kʲiʑo̞ːɾõ̞ɴ]

Noun

机(き)上(じょう)論(ろん) • (kijōron) 

1. armchair theory; speculative argument; an idea with no practical importance

   Synonyms: 空論 (kūron), 机上の空論 (kijō no kūron), 理想論 (risōron), 空理空論 (kūri kūron), 畳の上の水練 (tatami no ue no suiren)

   • 1937, Ishizaka Kitsuju, Nōseigaku yōron [Theory of agricultural management], page 255:

     リービッヒの最(さい)少(しょう)養(よう)分(ぶん)率(りつ)は概(がい)念(ねん)的(てき)所(しょ)産(さん)であり机(き)上(じょう)論(ろん)である。之(これ)は發(はっ)展(てん)させて、自(じ)己(こ)矛(む)盾(じゅん)によるそれ自(じ)身(しん)を揚(よう)乗(の)せしめねばならない?

     Rībihhi no saishō yōbun ritsu wa gainenteki shosan de ari kijōron de aru. Kore wa hatten sasete, jiko mujun ni yoru sore jishin o yō nose shime nebanaranai?

     Liebig's law of the minimum as a general conception is mere speculation. Must we attempt to advance a theory filled with such self-contradiction?

   • 1989, Tahara Sōichirō, Yawaraka na kigyō e no henkaku [Toward the transformation of ineffective enterprises], page 69:

     いわゆる机(き)上(じょう)論(ろん)ですよ。いつまでも果(は)てしない。そこで私(わたし)は“そんな机(き)上(じょう)論(ろん)はもうやめにしよう”と提(てい)案(あん)にしたのです。

     Iwayuru kijōron desu yo. Itsu made mo hateshinai. Soko de watashi wa “sonna kijōron wa mō yamenishiyō” to teian ni shita no desu.

     That is what is called an academic argument. It will never reach a conclusion. To that I have suggested, “Let’s stop such idle speculation.”

See also

• 机(き)上(じょう) (kijō, “theoretical; on paper”)
• 論(ろん) (ron, “a theory”)