Soulful Sundays: Consilience

“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” -E.O. Wilson

There are potentially an infinite number of facts to describe each thing in existence. Take a rock, for example. It has a specific mass, density, hardness, composition, refractive index, rate of decay, color, shape, crystalline structure, and so on. These properties are all relevant when trying to identify a diamond. But if we rely only on the facts we can directly observe, there's no way to distinguish a natural diamond from a lab-grown one. A natural diamond forms over millions of years under precise geological conditions and must be laboriously mined and extracted. Its test-tube counterpart, on the other hand, can be produced in a matter of weeks for a fraction of the cost. Same rock—different diamond.

In 1998, the renowned biologist E.O. Wilson published one of his most influential books, Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge, in which he argues for a generalist mindset in science. Throughout his long career, Wilson worked to synthesize knowledge across disciplines, developing groundbreaking theories in sociobiology and biodiversity science. He believed that, “The ideal scientist thinks like a poet and works like a bookkeeper.”

Wilson routinely incorporated the arts, humanities, and ethics into his writing. This ethos stood in stark contrast to the growing trend of hyperspecialization within modern academia—a trend that remains problematic today. While an abundance of facts can support progress, facts alone do not make revolutions. Hyperfocus on the trees, and we risk losing sight of the forest.

In Consilience, Wilson writes, “The love of complexity without reductionism makes art; the love of complexity with reductionism makes science.” The most fertile intellectual ground, he argues, is where art and science intersect, producing insights beyond what either field can achieve alone. The ancient Greeks understood this, blending ethics, theology, and empirical observation into a unified search for truth and human flourishing. Renaissance thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci, and Enlightenment figures such as Descartes, Bacon, and Newton, revived that classical spirit of consilience. Their influence endures—but generalism is too often shunned in today’s intellectual landscape.

One of the most common criticisms of consilience is the so-called “Jack of all trades, master of none” problem. By favoring breadth over depth, generalists risk lacking the expertise needed to fully grasp the complexities of any one field. This can lead to shallow or even distorted interpretations. Ironically, E.O. Wilson himself was a world-renowned expert in myrmecology (the study of ants) before gaining fame as an interdisciplinary thinker. He didn’t just go broad—he went deep, and not just in one area. He also made significant contributions to ecology, anthropology, and ethics. Perhaps a more fitting axiom for consilience would be: “Jack of many trades, master of many.” But it doesn’t have quite the same ring.

In an age of ever-expanding complexity, synthesizing knowledge—and making sense of it—is more important than ever. The world is becoming more intricate by the second, but we need not fear it. By approaching problems with an attitude of consilience—seeking subtle connections between fields and embracing the possibility that so-called experts may actually be the least effective—we join the ranks of humanity’s most visionary minds. Able to discern the diamond in the rough.