Logic

How does 'consistent' differ from 'coherent'? Two things are consistent if they are not contradictory; this is also the case for coherence. So why do the two need to be distinguished? Is there something that one has but the other not? Thanks!!!

Comments

"Consistent" indicates the logical condition of not being contradictory. In logical contexts, "coherent" is used synonymously with "consistent." But in other contexts, "coherent" is intended to make a stronger connection between two things than the (very weak) connection of being non-contradictory. So, for example, those who claim that "coherence with one's other beliefs" (or some variant of this) is a necessary condition of knowledge do not think that mere consistency is enough. Rather, to say that a believe "coheres" with one's other beliefs is to say that there is some evidenciary or justificatory connection between the coherent items. A very crude, but perhaps useful way to think of this is as follows: Conceive of "consistency" as simply meaning that the items in question do not clash with one another or rule each other out; conceive of coherence as the condition in which the items in question actually "fit" with one another.

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