def METHOD_NAME(self, ensure_consistency=False):
    for k in self._keys():
        self.__dict__[k] = self.settings.get(self.section, k)
    # ensuring consistency only checks for missing configuration option.
    if ensure_consistency:
        for thiskey in self.options_defaults:
            if thiskey not in self.__dict__:
                self.__dict__[thiskey] = self.options_defaults[thiskey]