The Code---mutable or not

mbpi at juno.com mbpi at juno.com
Sun Jul 15 20:03:48 EDT 2001


ME get MAD?!  Why heavans, no...  I'll just pop a Prozac, remain on the
sidelines, and place my wager on Seabiscuit (i.e. a dead horse), "to Win"
this handicap :-)

Mary Beth

On Sun, 15 Jul 2001 18:41:42 -0400 Michael Gochfeld
<gochfeld at EOHSI.RUTGERS.EDU> writes:
> At the risk of incurring Mary Beth's wrath. 
> 
> Ron wrote: 
> Anyone who does not own a copy of The International Code of 
> Zoological
> Nomenclature (ICZN) Vol. 4 should not even be opening their mouth 
> about
> taxonomy. Even many who do have a copy don't _understand_  how it 
> works.
> Taxonomists are not free to do what ever they want. The 
> International 
> Code of Zoological Nomenclature is structured to bring immutability 
> to 
> organic defination and communication. Popular butterfly authors 
> often
> work outside these rules and have screwed things up quite a bit.
> ==================
> There's something almost biblical in that proclamation (is that an 
> accident, Ron?). 
> 
> But it's important to recognize that the code itself is mutable. It 
> changes (albeit ponderously) to reflect the state of the cultures of 
> 
> systematics, taxonomy, and nomenclature, which are NOT AT ALL the 
> same 
> thing. 
> 
> Systematics is the study of the relationships
> 
> Taxonomy is the practice of classifying things (not necessarily by 
> relationships. Read for example the numerical taxonomists who were 
> primarily entomologists)
> 
> Nomenclature is the practice of giving names.  
> 
> The discussion has really been about nomenclature in the hope (held 
> to 
> differing degrees by the various discussants) that it reflects 
> relationships. 
> 
> The code is primarily about nomenclature. As I read it taxonomy is 
> only 
> the underpinning. 
> 
> Mike Gochfeld
> 
> 
>  
>  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
> 
>    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> 
>    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl 
>  
> 

________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl 
 


More information about the Leps-l mailing list