Monthly Archives: January 2011
Intelligent designoids are unsure about me
Normally I wouldn’t link to these guys, but I’m having a kind of odd week with the ID crowd. On the one hand the ever reliable Casey Luskin has declared I am condescending for suggesting we teach science free of … Continue reading
Filed under Creationism and Intelligent Design, Evolution, History, Species concept
The false analogy between species and art
Biological topics are used widely in philosophy to illustrate arcane and recondite philosophical topics,and one of the most widely used, and most abused, are species as examples of natural kinds. Kangaroos, swans, tigers, lions, cats, and of course humans are … Continue reading
Filed under Biology, Epistemology, Evolution, Natural Classification, Philosophy, Species concept
My talk online
The Australian Broadcasting Commission, or ABC, radio show on science, Ockham’s Razor (named after some philosophy guy), has finally played my talk on species concept history and the death of essentialist stories. You can go listen to it here. The … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, History, Species concept
Update on a pilgrim’s progress
Okay, well it’s more like the John Wayne sense of “pilgrim” than John Bunyan, but here I am, having gotten out of Dodge Brisbane just as the latest natural disaster hit. “Here” being the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. Once … Continue reading
“Species” an ALA Choice Book
I take what plaudits I can: Choice, from The American Library Association, has listed my book Species: A History of the Idea as an “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2010, a list they release each each January. Their criteria are: overall … Continue reading
Filed under Book, History, Species concept
While I move, a delay in posts
I am about to move to Sydney, although the Brisbane flooding has caused me no end of problems. This will mean I cannot post for a while; perhaps two weeks, although I doubt it. I should be able to comment … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative
A paperback of Species: A History
My not-inconsiderable ego has expanded several sizes upon the news from University of California Press that my book Species: A History of the Idea (see at right or on the My Books page) is to become a paperback. I hope … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Book, History, Species and systematics, Species concept
Some technical changes
Raise your eyes to the menu at the top of this pages, and you will see a new menu item “Categories”. A feature of my theme allows me to set up drop down menus with subordinate menus so I finally … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative
