Category Archives: Systematics

by | July 31, 2011

Wittgenstein, transformation, and evolution

Reposted from my first blog, and edited. When Wittgenstein collaborated for a period with Friederich Waismann, the outcome was an unpublished book, Logik, Sprache, Philosophie. He was working his way from the logical atomism of the Tractatus to the holism of the Philosophical … Continue reading →

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Filed under History, Metaphysics, Philosophy, Species and systematics, Systematics

by | June 9, 2011

More on phenomena

Semifinalist for the 3 Quarks Daily Philosophy Prize 2011 In my last post, I asked whether there was a foundation for my view that species are extra-theoretical phenomena. I have done some further reading, especially Michela Massimi’s book Kant and … Continue reading →

20 Comments

Filed under Philosophy, Science, Species and systematics, Species concept, Systematics

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by | April 26, 2011

More on why Brian Blessed is a monkey

If this worked, you should see a rather nice, if occasionally naughty language using, discussion of the point I made I little while ago why we should redefine terms like “monkey” to include humans. Sorry John Hawks…

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Filed under Evolution, Natural Classification, Species and systematics, Systematics

by | April 22, 2011

Is Brian Blessed a monkey or an ape?

One of the recurring creationist attacks on evolution is, “If we evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” I responded to this once before but it is time to revisit it. Why? Because Marty Robbins has attacked the British … Continue reading →

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Filed under Education, Epistemology, Evolution, Natural Classification, Philosophy, Systematics

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by | March 24, 2011

Systematists have a strange sense of humour

Some funny new names seen recently: Aussiedraco, a new pteranodontoid pterosaur genus from Australia [1]. Pronounced “ozzydrayco”, one can only hope someone finds a new species and calls it oioioi. Pantydraco [2] – It’s behind you! Pinkfloydia, a new genus … Continue reading →

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Filed under Humor, Systematics

by | March 4, 2011

Pattern cladism and the myth of theory dependence of observation

A new paper has been published in the History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, entitled “Pattern Cladism, Homology, and Theory-Neutrality” by Christopher Pearson. Either the journal has done something horrible to the text, or the author doesn’t know the … Continue reading →

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Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, Metaphysics, Natural Classification, Philosophy, Science, Systematics

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by | March 2, 2011

xkcd again!

2 Comments

Filed under Humor, Systematics

by | February 24, 2011

Housekeeping

So, I’m back online. I have lots of ideas but little to show for them, so instead of saying much, I’ll note that Tam Hunt is continuing his panpsychism at his own blog, and that I remain unconvinced. Also, I … Continue reading →

6 Comments

Filed under Metaphysics, Systematics

by | February 16, 2011

Why philosophers should publish in science journals

Generally my papers cause a mild reaction – like a dose of poison ivy. But i just had a paper published in Zootaxa, a mild mannered systematics journal, and as well as a two week turnaround, unheard of in philosophy … Continue reading →

19 Comments

Filed under Academe, Philosophy, Science, Species and systematics, Systematics

by | February 10, 2011

Arseholes! Systematics, phylogenetics and HPS

There’s been some developments this day. First of all a defunct blog on history and philosophy of science has revived with a new skin and as a group blog: AmericanScience: A Team Blog. I keep wanting to say “F&*k yeah!” … Continue reading →

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Filed under Evolution, History, Links, Philosophy, Rant, Science, Systematics

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