Classification, evolution, and the nature of biology / Alec L. Panchen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Panchen, Alec L.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biology--Classification.

Biology.

Evolution (Biology).

Biology--Philosophy.

Physical Description:

x, 403 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge [England] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1992.

Summary:

Historically, naturalists who proposed theories of evolution, including Darwin and Wallace, did so in order to explain the apparent relationship of natural classification. This book begins by exploring the intimate historical relationship between patterns of classification and patterns of phylogeny. However, it is a circular argument to use the data for classification and the concept of homology as evidence for evolution, when evolution is the theory explaining the phenomenon of natural classification. Alec Panchen presents other evidence for evolution in the form of a historically based but rigorously logical argument. This is followed by a history of methods of classification and phylogeny reconstruction including current mathematical and molecular techniques. The author makes the important claim that if the hierarchical pattern of classification is a real phenomenon, then biology is unique as a science in making taxonomic statements. This conclusion is reached by way of historical reviews of theories of evolutionary mechanism and the philosophy of science as applied to biology. The book is addressed to biologists, particularly taxonomists, concerned with the history and philosophy of their subject, and to philosophers of science concerned with biology. It is also an important source book on methods of classification and the logic of evolutionary theory for students, professional biologists, and paleontologists.

Contents:

Chapter 2 Patterns of Classification 10

I. The scala naturae 11

II. The Linnean hierarchy and the Tree of Porphyry 16

III. Quinarian circles and family trees 23

IV. Grades, phenograms, and cladograms 30

Chapter 3 Patterns of Phylogeny 41

I. The scala naturae as phylogeny 42

II. Family trees 45

III. Stufenreihen and cladograms 52

IV. Reticulate phylogeny 58

Chapter 4 Homology and the Evidence for Evolution 62

I. Homology 63

II. The classification of homology 69

III. Vestigial organs 79

IV. Ontogeny and molecular biology 82

Chapter 5 Geological and Geographical Evidence 85

I. The fossil record 85

II. Fossils and transmutation 91

III. Biogeography 97

Chapter 6 Methods of Classification: The Development of Taxonomy 109

I. The method of logical division 109

II. Linnean taxonomy 114

III. Post-Linnean taxonomy 117

IV. "Evolutionary classification" 121

V. Conclusions: The historical basis of taxonomy 130

Chapter 7 Methods of Classification: Phenetics and Cladistics 132

I. Phenetics 132

II. Phenetic clustering 144

III. Cladistics 151

IV. Cladistics and fossils 158

Chapter 8 Methods of Classification: the Current Debate 169

I. "The transformation of cladistics" 170

II. Out-groups or ontogeny 181

III. Parsimony 188

Chapter 9 Classification and the Reconstruction of Phylogeny 195

I. The reconstruction of phylogeny 196

II. Molecular distance 204

III. Sequence data 212

Chapter 10 Is Systematics Independent? 225

I. Distances, parsimony, compatibility, or likelihood? 226

II. The hierarchy 237

III. Cladograms, trees, and scenarios 244

Chapter 11 Mechanisms of Evolution: Darwinism and Its Rivals 248

I. Lamarck and "Lamarckism" 250

II. Natural Selection: Darwin and Wallace 254

III. Post-Origin theories 262

Chapter 12 Mechanisms of Evolution: the Synthetic Theory 268

I. "The Modern Synthesis" 270

II. Criticisms of the Synthetic Theory 273

III. Developmental constraints and selection 279

IV. Macroevolution 284

V. Conclusions: The Theory of Natural Selection 294

Chapter 13 Scientific Knowledge 298

I. The problem of induction 300

II. The hypothetico-deductive method 304

III. "Popper and after" 308

IV. Normative, descriptive, sociological, or cognitive? 317

Chapter 14 Philosophy and Biology 323

I. Biological generalisations 326

II. The taxomatic statement 330

III. What is being classified? 333

IV. The hierarchy again 341

V. Propositions in biology 345.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [349]-385) and indexes.

ISBN:

0521305829

0521315786

OCLC:

24247430