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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Natural Sciences.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is reductionism?
(a) The use of abstractions and generalizations to explain phenomena.
(b) The analysis of the interrelation of all the parts of a system or problem.
(c) The study of the context for a system or problem.
(d) The analysis of components of a system or problem.

2. What is Wilson ultimately interested in producing with consilience?
(a) Efficiency.
(b) Order.
(c) Freedom.
(d) Opportunity.

3. What is the only way to get a clear picture of the world, in Wilson's account?
(a) To separate humanities from natural science.
(b) To add philosophy and ethics to all natural sciences.
(c) To divorce the natural science from social sciences.
(d) To integrate natural science with social sciences and humanities.

4. What did Laplace pioneer?
(a) The use of statistics in politics.
(b) The notion of inalienable human rights.
(c) The use of telescopes in astronomy.
(d) The use of probability in physics.

5. What does Wilson say was the consequence of Robespierre's employment of the concept of the general will?
(a) The French went to war with Russia.
(b) The French undermined their own revolution.
(c) Napoleon rose to power.
(d) 17,000 Frenchmen were killed.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the unification of intellectual work have its benefit, in Wilson's account?

2. What does Wilson say he was searching for as a young man?

3. What does Wilson say matters in science?

4. Under what circumstances are theories accepted universally?

5. What is consilience?

(see the answer key)

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