The consilience of a theory – its coherent integration with other theories – is also a desirable attribute, for consilience between theories contributes to their explanatory power as a group. Consilience can occur when a relatively general theory provides a broad explanation of phenomena that coheres with more specific theories, or when a specific theory provides a particular explanation that coheres with the broader explanations of a more general theory.

Observant visitors to any prison will quickly recognize commonalties in its inmate population. Not only do shared traits exist among the inmate population of any particular institution (intra-prison commonalties) but commonalties also exist among inmates nationwide (inter-prison commonalties).

‘ […] Snakes kill. Nobody fools around with Joe Blakes, girlie. Bloke who fools around with snakes is a flamin′ idiot.’

The young man wantoned away his inheritance.