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Biological classification : a philosophical introduction /

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Modern biological classification is based on the system developed by Linnaeus, and interpreted by Darwin as representing the tree of life. But despite its widespread acceptance, the evolutionary interpretation has some problems and limitations. This comprehensive book provides a single resource for...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Richards, Richard A. (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2016.
Series:Cambridge introductions to philosophy and biology.
Subjects:
Biology > Classification > Philosophy.
Table of Contents:
  • List of illustrations
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1. Why classify?
  • 2. The Aristotelian framework
  • 3. The Darwinian pivot
  • 4. Evolutionary taxonomy and the cladistic challenge
  • 5. The tree of life
  • 6. The species problem
  • 7. The metaphysics of biological classification
  • 8. Theory and the world
  • 9. The essential tension.