(しょせつ)

しょせつ
noun
various theories; multiple accounts
1. various theories; multiple accounts; different opinions
A collection of different theories, opinions, or explanations about a topic. Often used to indicate that the truth is uncertain or debated.
語源(ごげん)には諸説(しょせつ)ある。
There are various theories about the etymology.
諸説(しょせつ)あるが、(もっと)有力(ゆうりょく)なのはこの(せつ)だ。
There are various theories, but this one is the most credible.
この遺跡(いせき)年代(ねんだい)については諸説(しょせつ)紛々(ふんぷん)で、(いま)だに定説(ていせつ)がない。
There are many conflicting theories about the age of these ruins, and no established view yet.

Very frequently appears in the set phrase 諸説(しょせつ)あり or 諸説(しょせつ)ある (there are various theories), used as a disclaimer when presenting information that is not definitively established. 諸説(しょせつ)紛々(ふんぷん) means "opinions/theories are in wild disagreement." The prefix (しょ) means "various/many" and appears in other compounds like 諸国(しょこく) (various countries) and 諸問題(しょもんだい) (various problems).