OT and TO - On the status of OT as a theory and a formalism (Optimality Theory, linguistics)

This article begins by critically examining OT from the point of view of two (related) science-theoretical criteria: its formalism/notation and its status as a formal theory. This examination is oriented towards usual linguistic standards, rather than the stricter standards of harder sciences(which, possibly, no linguistic theory could yet achieve). The result, namely that OT is not a formal theory, even though it has a quite elaborate formalism, is explicated in science-sociological terms. The further question is posed: if OT is not a formal theory, is it at least a theory of (a part of )linguistics? The answer is that it is not, and that, given the general aims of the linguistic theory, OT should be abandoned in favor of theories which do attempt to achieve these aims.