Single Idea 17070

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 6. Coherence]

Full Idea

I shall make use of the admittedly imprecise notions of consilience, simplicity, analogy and fitting into a web of belief, or in short of 'coherence'.

Clarification

'consilience' is the convergence of varied evidence

Gist of Idea

Coherence is consilience, simplicity, analogy, and fitting into a web of belief

Source

J.J.C. Smart (Explanation - Opening Address [1990], p.06)

Book Reference

'Explanation and Its Limits', ed/tr. Knowles,Dudley [CUP 1990], p.6


A Reaction

Coherence sounds like a family of tests, rather than a single unified concept. I still like coherence, though.

Related Idea

Idea 17071 An explanation is better if it also explains phenomena from a different field [Smart]