consilience Definition
- 1the linking together of principles from different disciplines, especially when forming a comprehensive theory
- 2the convergence of evidence from independent sources to support a scientific theory
Using consilience: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "consilience" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The consilience of biology and physics has led to new discoveries in biophysics.
Example
The theory of evolution is supported by the consilience of evidence from genetics, paleontology, and comparative anatomy.
Example
Consilience between economics and psychology can help explain human behavior in financial markets.
consilience Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for consilience
Antonyms for consilience
- discordance
- disagreement
Phrases with consilience
the idea that the best explanation for a set of observations is the one that accounts for the most data from the most diverse sources
Example
The consilience of induction is a key principle in scientific inquiry.
the idea that the probability of an event is best estimated by combining evidence from multiple sources
Example
The consilience of probability is used in fields such as forensic science and risk assessment.
the idea that a scientific theory is more likely to be true if it is supported by evidence from multiple independent sources
Example
The consilience of evidence supports the theory of anthropogenic climate change.
Origins of consilience
from Latin 'con-' meaning 'together' and 'salire' meaning 'to jump'
Summary: consilience in Brief
Consilience [kuh n-sil-ee-uhns] refers to the linking of principles from different disciplines to form a comprehensive theory. It also denotes the convergence of evidence from independent sources to support a scientific theory. Examples of consilience include the combination of biology and physics in biophysics, and the use of consilience of evidence in supporting the theory of evolution. The term is often used in phrases such as 'consilience of induction,' 'consilience of probability,' and 'consilience of evidence.'