Concluding Remarks

It is useful to begin this chapter by summarizing the major points made in the preceding chapters. This is done under four headings: the classifications themselves; the advantages that flow from these; the insights from comparisons across classifications; and the various Golden Mean arguments (see chapter 1) that have both supported and been supported by these efforts at classification. Three broad questions are then addressed: “Why should science be believed?”; “How might science be improved?”; and “How should science be taught?” In answering these questions the roles of both specialized and interdisciplinary science are discussed.