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

Short Answer Questions

1. What two fields did Wilson connect in his theory of unified learning?

2. How has the postmodern fragmentation of knowledge affected consilience, in Wilson's account??

3. How does Wilson characterize the current state of knowledge?

4. Where did Wilson develop the idea of unified learning?

5. How does Wilson characterize the relationship between ecology and ethics?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is reductionism, and what makes it useful for science?

2. How is Wilson's theory a consequence of evolutionary theory?

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

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

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

6. How does Wilson use evolution as a parallel for consilience?

7. How does Wilson offer dreams as an example of the need for consilience?

8. What does the term "consilience" mean?

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

10. What ancient sources does Wilson trace consilience back to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The model for scientific work is based on hypothesis and testing, with each discovery creating the need for further testing and further hypotheses and publications--but Wilson describes scientific knowledge as settled and established. Is Wilson overlooking the uncertainty in scientific work and generalizing the results? Does the scientific method itself foster consilience or undermine it?

Essay Topic 2

What difference is there between how individuals experience consilience and how societies experience consilience? Is the best audience for 'Consilience' really a society, or are there uses for consilience in individual lives? Who do you have to be to 'use' consilience? Who is Wilson's audience?

Essay Topic 3

What kinds of situations or uses would consilience be best for, and what kinds of knowledge or what situations would not benefit by a 'consilient' perspective? What are the limitations of Wilson's consilience? What are the strengths?

(see the answer keys)

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