[Taxacom] [iczn-list] provisions to the Code

[Wolfgang Wuster]

Thanks to all for a number of thoughtful posts, which will take some digestion..

I would like to pick up on a point Richard Pyle made:
________________________________________
From: Richard Pyle <pylediver at gmail.com> on behalf of Richard Pyle <deepreef at bishopmuseum.org>

> Also, as others have stated or alluded to, the job of the Code is not to
> eliminate bad taxonomy.  There always have been, currently are, and always
> will be bad taxonomists.  It is the job of the scientific community to
> establish mechanism that help promote good taxonomy and reduce bad taxonomy.
> This is outside the scope of the Code.

While factually true, this misses the point that it is actually the Code that actively encourages  bad taxonomy, by giving credit and attention to its products. Much is made of the claimed separation between issues of nomenclature and taxonomy, but what we actually have is a one way flow of influence without feedback mechanism: taxonomic issues must not be allowed influence the Code or its implementation, but the Code implicitly and unavoidably influences taxonomy by rewarding bad taxonomy. The mechanisms to reduce bad taxonomy have been established long ago (peer review in particular - not perfect, we all know, but surely everyone agrees that the volume of problematic material published  by the AJH, Calodema etc. would not see light of day in *any* peer-reviewed journal), but it is the Code that undermines them in the case of taxonomy. Hence the increasingly widespread frustration in at least some of the afflicted corners of the community.

Wolfgan


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