Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Objectivity: is a property of determinations about facts. It is assumed that the properties attributed to the facts are determined by the facts and are not, or as little as, influenced by the attributing person. In order to determine whether this requirement is fulfilled, consideration must be given to the methods of access to information. This goes beyond the facts considered._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Stephen Jay Gould on Objectivity - Dictionary of Arguments
I 215 ff Objectivity/biology/science/Gould: objectivity of species: indigenious have almost everywhere the same classifications as us. >Classification. I 216 Species/Darwin, Lamarck: species are not natural units but "purely artificial combinations", conceptual definitions. I 217 Species/Ernst MayrVsDarwin/MayrVsLamarck: "Species are a product of evolution and not of the human mind." Darwin and Lamarck could not simply explain why erratic changes should arise from gradual development. Traditional solution: one can assume that our world is changing so slowly that the configurations of the moment can be treated as constant. Higher units (genera): cannot be defined objectively in the hierarchy of Linné, because they are combinations of species and do not occur separately in nature. They do not reproduce together, nor do they influence each other in any other way. One cannot put people and dolphins in one order and chimpanzees in another. These orders are therefore by no means arbitrary. Although chimpanzees are genealogically related to our neighbours, do we belong to the same genus or to different genera within the same family? Species are the only objective, taxonomic units of nature (not genus, kingdom or order). I 221 Other classifications: e. g. the Fore in New Guinea have a single word for all butterflies, but they classify the birds like Linné. >Evolution, >Explanation._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Gould I Stephen Jay Gould The Panda’s Thumb. More Reflections in Natural History, New York 1980 German Edition: Der Daumen des Panda Frankfurt 2009 Gould II Stephen Jay Gould Hen’s Teeth and Horse’s Toes. Further Reflections in Natural History, New York 1983 German Edition: Wie das Zebra zu seinen Streifen kommt Frankfurt 1991 Gould III Stephen Jay Gould Full House. The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin, New York 1996 German Edition: Illusion Fortschritt Frankfurt 2004 Gould IV Stephen Jay Gould The Flamingo’s Smile. Reflections in Natural History, New York 1985 German Edition: Das Lächeln des Flamingos Basel 1989 |
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> Counter arguments against Gould
> Counter arguments in relation to Objectivity
Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-28