Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Taxonomy: Taxonomy in biology is the science of classifying and naming organisms based on shared characteristics. It organizes and categorizes species into hierarchical groups, reflecting their evolutionary relationships. See also Evolution, Classification, Species, Order._____________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 Taxonomy - Dictionary of Arguments
I 284 Taxonomy/classification/order/Gould: some taxonomists believe that organisms should only be grouped according to their branching patterns. If two groups are diverted from each other and have no successors, such as birds and dinosaurs, they must be grouped in a formal classification before each of them joins another group (such as dinosaurs with other reptiles). Cladist system of taxonomy: in a cladist system, dinosaurs cannot be reptiles unless birds are reptiles. But if birds are not reptiles, dinosaurs and birds must form a new class of their own. Cladistic: is the question of which branch comes first, because a new group is created. The traditional view is that structural differences are decisive. Other taxonomists believe that the branching points should not be the only criterion, and also take into account the degree of adaptive divergence of structures. For example, according to the cladist system, lungfish and cows have a higher degree of relationship than lungfish and salmon. Tradition: according to the traditional system, we take into account both the biological structure and the distribution ratios and are able to keep salmon and lungfish together due to numerous common features. The traditional system recognises an uneven evolutionary speed after branching off as a classification criterion. I 289 Gould: I tend more to the traditional than the cladist system. Bats are also not assigned to a separate class simply because they fly. - - - IV 131 Taxonomy/Gould: variation plays a different role here than in evolution. Evolution: there are probably "islands of form", i.e. there are no smooth transitions from cats to other animals. Type: although species can be discreet, they do not possess unchangeable features! Variations are the raw material of evolutionary change. There are variations from the beginning: features are deceptive. Definition type: species must be defined as chains of non-reducible variations (anti-essentialism). IV 173 Taxonomy/Gould: numerical precision cannot be the principle of taxonomy order, because life unfolds over time. - - - III 23 Taxonomy/classification: when classifying exotic species, we may be able to use "maximum objectivity", but with homo sapiens we stumble. Nothing is more misleading than narrowly limited, formally correct information that has been taken out of context. Prejudice: in our pictures, time before the emergence of vertebrates never excludes more than 10%. In reality, it is almost half of the entire evolutionary period. III 27 Vertebrates: up until today, more than half of all vertebrates are fish. III 60 Classification/Gould: classification does not consist of distributing objectively recognizable categories. Taxonomy includes many human choices that we impose on nature. There is indeed objective nature, but we can communicate with it only through the structure of our taxonomic systems. It is not true that such systems would be free of ambiguity. E. g. "Two Gender Model": the two gender model only exists since Descartes and Newton. From antiquity to the Renaissance, a "one sex model" was preferred: the human bodies are in a continuous spectrum of perfection, from the low-earthly to the highest idealization. III 89 Classification: problem: some systems present successful groups as distant from the main line. >Classification._____________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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