Groves on the species concept 13 Sep 2009 Colin Groves, the primatologist from the ANU who does a lot of systematics, has an interview on the topic of species here at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio show “Ockham’s Razor”. The podcast will be up in due course. One thing I must dispute with Colin is that there even is a phylogenetic species concept. But that’s for another day… Late note: Listen to the show here. Species concept Systematics
History John Ray on species fixity and race 19 Sep 202019 Sep 2020 For since in nature the number of species is fixed and determined, since ‘God on the sixth day rested from all his labour’, that is, from the creation of new species, however infinite might be the number of plants varying in colour and multiplicity of flower, with new ones arising… Read More
Epistemology Defining philosophy 22 May 201018 Sep 2017 While I am travelling, of course an interesting net phenomenon occurs: people trying to define what philosophy is. It began with Simon Critchley opening a philosophy blog in the New York Times. As pleased as some are to see such a beast, they objected to Critchley being the blogger, and… Read More
Philosophy My species book receives a Choice award 11 Feb 202011 Feb 2020 I am delighted to tell you that my book Species: The Evolution of the Idea has received a 2019 Choice Reviews Outstanding Academic Title Award! The book met the meticulous Choice criteria from originality, uniqueness, and importance in building undergraduate library collections, to overall excellence in presentation and value to… Read More
“One thing I must dispute with Colin” Why do some bloggers use the first names of the authors of papers/articles or the person being interviewed? Is it not conventional to use just the last name or both when discussing a colleague’s work? As well, Jerry Coyne tends to use first names: “According to Richard, both he and Armstrong were commissioned to write on the topic. . . .” whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/dawkins-17-armstrong-0/
it depends, I think, on whether they are known personally to you or not. People I know I tend to use their first name.