lep names

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

James raises the usual thought-provoking points. Much as I should be getting
some physical exercise during this lunch hour; I am hopelessly hooked on the
intellectual stimulation that comes from yacking about butterflies and
butterfly names. So here is my respectful rejoinder:
- decisions based on scientific evidence; yes, absolutely but I have learned
from a lifetime of crafting decisions with other people that all evidence is
open to differing interpretations and that first one must get agreement on
what is relevant evidence in the minds of the people making the decision
- voting on the names ?; no, not suggesting that. I prefer that people make
their own decisions on the basis of available information. I dislike
majority rule as much as I like minority rule. I like consensus building
through rationale debate. Present your best case in an understandable manner
and most people will buy it. Some will not and that is their right.
- garbage in, garbage out. Well, maybe but I have discovered that one
person's garbage is another person's gold
- rest of zoology has abandoned subspecies ? I frankly was not aware that
this was so but if that is the case; I do not care
- so closing thought before taking a walk; the debate on names should use
the best available science but science alone will not close the debate nor
give us all the answers. Decision making is a matter of one or more human
beings making a choice from two or more decision options.  Data and agreed
upon conventions for running the data through an algorithm is not
necessarily the same as making a decision and as often as not, only provides
fodder for more interpretation and debate.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: James J Kruse [mailto:fnjjk1 at aurora.uaf.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 10:30 AM
To: Leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: RE: lep names
 
 
On Wed, 31 Jan 2001, Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX wrote:
 
> This may be helpful. I hope so.  Taxonomic decisions are made by
individual
> people or a group of people who have agreed to reach a decision through
> negotiation and consensus.
 
Negotiation and consensus based on the scientific evidence I hope...
 
>   It does not wash in a democratic society populated by
> intelligent and educated people.
 
Are you suggesting that the committee present a list of names and
alternate names and we should vote? This doesn't sound like a process
grounded in as unbiased science as possible, but rather an opinion poll
where majority rules.
 
>  Taxonomic correctness by committee edict or because some expert
> 'said so' just does not cut it. It only serves to alienate people.
 
No, it should not be done according to 'so and so said so'. There should
be some scientific basis in the literature or ongoing research.
 
>  It must include subspecies to be useful and comprehensive.  People who
> do not like subspecies and who do not appreciate the importance of
 
My opinion on this was voiced last week. However, I do think that there
are some useful subspecific names, but plenty more that are not. Garbage
in, garbage out. Ever wonder why all the rest of zoology has abandoned
subspecies except most of the butterfly researchers?
 
>   Any and all changes from the previous miller/brown/ferris
> checklists need to be thoughtfully explained and referenced so that
readers
> can a) understand, b) check original sources if they do not find the
writers
> arguments to be convincing.
 
Okay, this sounds more like science going on rather than 'democracy'. I am
all for a comprehensive list and, being usually agreeable but somewhat
argumentative, the opportunity to debate.
 
Regards,
James J. Kruse, Ph.D.
Curator of Entomology
University of Alaska Museum
907 Yukon Drive, PO Box 756960
Fairbanks, AK  99775-6960
Phone: 907.474.5579
Fax: 907.474.1987/5469
http://www.uaf.edu/museum/
 
 
 
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