1. Definition: Theory usually refers to the basic principles, concepts and laws of a certain discipline, while theory is a systematic and structured knowledge system for a certain field or problem.
2. Scope: The scope of academic theory is relatively small, usually limited to a certain subject field, and the scope of theory can cover multiple subject fields.
3. Depth: Theoretical discussions are often more in-depth and detailed, involving specific knowledge points and technical details, while theoretical discussions are more macroscopic and abstract, focusing on overall structure and logic.
4. Interdisciplinary nature: Theory is usually closely related to specific disciplines, and the interdisciplinary nature is relatively small, while theory can span multiple disciplines and is more interdisciplinary.
5. Theory is a broad concept, which can refer to human observation, understanding and inference of natural and social phenomena, and can also refer to a systematic and structured knowledge system of a certain field or problem.