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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 does local positivism fail to distinguish between, in Wilson's narration?

2. After considering all the different contexts for ants' communication, how does Wilson describe their form of communication?

3. What does science try to integrate, in Wilson's account?

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

5. What decision was effectively made in human evolution as the brain found its present size?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does science impact the arts, in E.O. Wilson's account?

2. How did Wilson arrive at his theory of consilience?

3. What consequence does Wilson hope consilience can have on public policy?

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

5. Why does Wilson cite Einstein as an example of someone who practiced consilience?

6. How does Wilson describe the mindset necessary to be a scientist?

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

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

9. What three-part division does Wilson divide the brain into?

10. What does consilience provide as an educational policy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Wilson's proposal for integrating consilience in education. How have schools or organizations tried to foster consilience? How would your education be different if it were based on consilient principles? Make a prediction about the future integration of consilience in higher education.

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

Is consilience a project for government planners or for university budgets? Is Wilson advocating a role for consilience in government or in education?

(see the answer keys)

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