What are the precise parameters for defining a species and now that genetics are here? Mark > Message du 03/02/13 19:51 > De : "Hannon" > A : "Pacific Bulb Society" > Copie à : > Objet : Re: [pbs] TAXONOMY DISCUSSION > > "*The days of the Mexican stand off between so called 'lumpers and > splitters' is effectively soon to be at an end with these new tools and > allowing an inarguable case, more often than not, to be made one way or > another.*" > > Who would make the "inarguable case"? A consensus or a central authority? > The arbiter is the scientific community, which derives much of its strength > from the heterodox nature of its members. Friction between the latter can > be more productive than agreement. > > I don't think the problem of ranking taxa, ultimately a subjective > necessity, can be resolved in a landscape of new information and evolving > interpretations. Two botanists with a similar, comprehensive understanding > of a group may forward different and equally valid views on the > organization of taxa into a formal classification. Such differences provide > a crucial forum for the improvement of phylogenies and taxonomy. > > > Dylan > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/