Monthly Archives: March 2009
Taxonomy wars, ersatz and echt
Most bloggers know that it is hard to write interesting entries (curse PZ Mnhyrs!), but just occasionally, one writes itself. In one day we get three items about taxonomy: one about real taxonomic disagreement, over whether whales are more closely … Continue reading
Filed under Evolution, Humor, Species and systematics
The Simpsons on taxonomy
Homer: “Oh, I just love it here! So many things, and so many things of each thing!” From here (go look!) via here.
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Filed under Humor, Species and systematics
Defending liberal democracy
I urge people to go read Russell Blackford’s submission to the Human Rights consultative committee in Australia. It deals with the changes and challenges to civil liberties in the modern era and although Australia-focussed, it generalises well once you get … Continue reading
Filed under Censorship, Politics, Religion
Marjorie Grene dies
Marjorie Grene was a doyen of philosophy and history of biology, and I reviewed one of her last texts a while back and linked to an interview. She died yesterday, according to Leiter, aged 99.
Filed under Uncategorized
Early modern philosophy texts for students
As you may have noticed, I am something of a Victorian – as well as being from that wonderful state, I also write as if I were a nineteenth century writer. It comes of reading too many of them over … Continue reading
Mill on Kinds and Types
A while back I excerpted some Whewell on classification by types. Here is John Stuart Mill disagreeing with him, and, I think, starting off the modern literature on natural kinds.
Filed under Evolution, History, Species and systematics
Eccentricity
In this age the mere example of non-conformity, the mere refusal to bend the knee to custom, is itself a service. Precisely because the tyranny of opinion is such as to make eccentricity a reproach, it is desirable, in order … Continue reading
Filed under Social dominance
Taxonomy was the reason for Darwin’s theory
Taxonomy – the science of classifying organisms into putatively natural groups – is often treated as a kind of necessary bit of paperwork without much theoretical import by some biologists. Others think it is the single most important thing to … Continue reading
Filed under Ecology and Biodiversity, Evolution, History, Species and systematics
It’s official – Wittgenstein wins in a landslide
Leiter’s poll has Wittgenstein beating Frege. I’m disappointed that Peirce didn’t get a higher ranking, and astonished the Nietzsche did.
