The culture of synthesis: habits of mind in novel ecological integration

One of the most important ways the discipline of ecology can advance is to facilitate synthesis and integration. In turn synthesis can be stimulated b y attending to the cultural factors that promote and constrain the process. Culture refers to "special training and development" or to "the totality o f socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought". Certain aspects of the gener al concept of culture can be applied to scientific practice, help explain t he role synthesis currently plays in ecology, and identify ways to facilita te synthesis in the discipline. Potential cultural barriers to synthesis in clude a dominance by narrow, reductive methods without a well-developed cou nterpoise of integrative and creative habits of mind. The literature on the creative process provides ecologists with a model of the long-term commitm ent required, the use of analogy and radical juxtaposition, and a vanquishi ng of the "eureka myth". Vertical integration, linkage across a diverse fie ld, cross-disciplinary fertilization, and increased use of the diversity am ong the community of ecologists can be stimulated by a culture of synthesis .