Single Idea 20643

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / d. Consilience]

Full Idea

Consilience is the jumping together of knowledge by the linking of facts and fact-based theory across disciplines to create a common groundwork of explanation.

Gist of Idea

Consilience is a common groundwork of explanation

Source

William Whewell (The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences [1840]), quoted by Peter Watson - Convergence Intro 'United'

Book Reference

Watson,Peter: 'Convergence' [Simon and Schuster 2016], p.12


A Reaction

Apparently this is the first use of the word, which was popularised by E.O. Wilson in recent times. If, as I do, you dream of a final theory, in philosophy as well as in science, then you have to be a fan of consilience.