[Taxacom] quality control of taxonomic work

[Richard Zander]

In a way, it is a simple question, for which there is a simple answer.
Scientists use deduction, induction, abduction and reasoning by analogy,
if they are organized in thinking. The point of doing taxonomy is to
understand variation globally for a group of species such that when a
possibly new species in the group is detected, reasoning by analogy can
provide a guide as to whether it should be described or not. 

Knowledge of the philosophic basis behind scientific reasoning allows
one to make mistakes with confidence and clarity. 

 

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Richard H. Zander
Missouri Botanical Garden, PO Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299 USA  
Web sites: http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/ and
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/bfnamenu.htm
Modern Evolutionary Systematics Web site:
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/resbot/21EvSy.htm
UPS and FedExpr -  MBG, 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis 63110 USA

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
[mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Damien
HINSINGER
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 2:40 AM
To: TAXACOM at MAILMAN.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] quality control of taxonomic work

I agree with your commentaries about bad and good taxonomists.
However, if you find a bigfoot looking like we can "imagine" it, it will
appear clearly that is a new species. But, if you find a population of
bigfoot (you're very lucky ;-) ), there will be likely somme differences
among individuals, and the description will be not so clear as
previously thought.... There is a lot of simple examples (most of
mammals, birds,etc) where the species are morphologically weel-defined.
But in others groups (worms, fishes, insects, etc), the delimitation of
species could be not so easy.
In these cases, many individuals could be necessary to accurately assess
the species diversity.
Not a simple question....
Damien