An oak is an oak, or not? Understanding and dealing with confusion and disagreement in biological classification

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  • Hasselt University
  • KU Leuven
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Original languageEnglish
Article number39
JournalBiology and Philosophy
Volume38
Issue number5
Early online date23 Sept 2023
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Abstract

Human interaction with the living world, in science and beyond, always involves classification. While it has been a long-standing scientific goal to produce a single all-purpose taxonomy of life to cater for this need, classificatory practice is often subject to confusion and disagreement, and many philosophers have advocated forms of classificatory pluralism. This entails that multiple classifications should be allowed to coexist, and that whichever classification is best, is context-dependent. In this paper, we discuss some practical consequences of classificatory pluralism, in particular with regard to how one is supposed to find the best classification for a given context. We do so by means of a case study concerning oaks, in particular the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and the sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), two important putative species that present several classificatory challenges; and by applying one recent philosophical framework conceptualizing classification, the so-called Grounded Functionality Account (GFA) of (natural) kinds. We show how the GFA elucidates several issues related to oak classification and gives directions to optimize classificatory practices, and discuss some implications for scientific taxonomy.

Keywords

    Classification, Oaks, Pluralism, Policymaking, Taxonomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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An oak is an oak, or not? Understanding and dealing with confusion and disagreement in biological classification. / Cuypers, Vincent; Reydon, Thomas A.C.
In: Biology and Philosophy, Vol. 38, No. 5, 39, 10.2023.

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