Sentence:  The <WSD>consilience</WSD> of a theory – its coherent integration with other theories – is also a desirable attribute, for <WSD>consilience</WSD> between theories contributes to their explanatory power as a group. <WSD>Consilience</WSD> 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. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The agreement, co-operation, or overlap of academic disciplines.