View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What would need to be true before we could establish the goals and progress of evolutionary processes, in Wilson's account?

2. In Wilson's account, why did the French Revolution fail?

3. How would you describe the relationship between Descartes' theories and modern science of the brain?

4. What claims do philosophers make for the unification of knowledge?

5. What does Wilson mean by the Ionian Enchantment'?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Rousseau's influence on Wilson's idea of consilience?

2. How does Wilson describe what it is possible to know about the brain?

3. How would you describe Francis Bacon's influence on Wilson's idea of consilience?

4. How does the modern theory of dreams explain something like the presence and significance of snakes in dreams, in Wilson's account?

5. How is knowledge accepted as settled, or final?

6. How would you describe John Locke's influence on Wilson's idea of consilience?

7. How would you describe Rene Descartes' influence on Wilson's idea of consilience?

8. What is the relationship between chaos theory and consilience?

9. How do anatomical limitations affect our science, in Wilson's account?

10. How would you describe Wilson's relationship with religion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What would consilience look like if it were accomplished? Would it expand or limit scientific experimentation? Would it encourage or suppress dissenting views? Would it be totalitarian or fractious?

Essay Topic 2

European and American birth rates are relatively low compared to many developing countries. How do you reconcile this with Wilson's arguments about evolution, and how the expansion of power over territory allows the dissemination of genes? Has America's influence been genetic? How would you characterize its influence, and reconcile its influence with its low birth rates?

Essay Topic 3

Are 'epi-genetic rules' really just another way of saying complex social factors that have to be experienced individually? Does Wilson really evade the complexity and individuality of experience and sensation and language use?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 889 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample