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An Exploration of the Three Major Schools of Taxonomy Using Science Fiction Examples

Read, Jessica Gentry
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1255187153

Abstract Details

2009, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Philosophy.
Biological taxonomy is a key part of communication among the different fields of biological study. While biologists and philosophers agree on the importance of taxonomy, there is persistent disagreement on what the roles of taxonomy are and how these roles should be fulfilled. The debate is among proponents of three major schools: 1) evolutionary taxonomy, which classifies on evidence of common descent and degree of change, 2) cladism, which focuses on evidence of common descent alone and 3) pheneticism, which classifies by evaluating overall similarity and dissimilarity. This thesis examines each school of taxonomy and advantages and disadvantages for each. The first chapter explains key terms and concepts required for a discussion of taxonomy. The next three chapters explore the basic tenets of each respective school. In the last chapter marginal members of Homo sapiens are borrowed from science fiction to test the boundaries of each school. By providing novel and challenging examples, these potential humans from science fiction illustrate what a school requires to make a classification and how it copes with unusual specimen. These examples will show how a school can respond to various problems and how these responses help or hinder the role of taxonomy in biology.
Deborah Barnbaum, PhD (Advisor)
148 p.
Philosophy
taxonomy; science fiction; classification

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Read, J. G. (2009). An Exploration of the Three Major Schools of Taxonomy Using Science Fiction Examples [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1255187153

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Read, Jessica. An Exploration of the Three Major Schools of Taxonomy Using Science Fiction Examples. 2009. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1255187153.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Read, Jessica. "An Exploration of the Three Major Schools of Taxonomy Using Science Fiction Examples." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1255187153

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1255187153
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.