Psychology Dictionary of Arguments

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Classification: Classification is the process of categorizing or organizing objects, ideas, or information based on shared characteristics or criteria. It helps to simplify and make sense of complex systems or data.
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Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

Ernst Mayr on Classification - Dictionary of Arguments

I 133
Classification: Classification usually is done by logical division downwards: how many species are classified and what weight do the different characteristics have: "progressive" or "downwards classification". (Actually identification).
>Identification
, >Individuation, >Specification.
Therefore later: "Upwards classification: hierarchical arrangement of ever-growing groups of related species into classes.
>Species.
Darwin's method confirmed the upward classification and thus triggered a scientific revolution.
>Darwinism, >Evolution.
I 134
Classification/20th Century (1950) two new schools:
a) Numerical Phenetics
b) Cladistics.
Cladism: the cladist system is intended to reveal the history of the tribe only, while the evolutionary system strives to form taxa from the most similar and closely related species
(useful for ecology and biology).
>Ecology.
Both species can continue to coexist, because they have very different objectives.
I 173
Systematics: not only to describe but to contribute to understanding.
I 175
Def Class/Biology/Mayr: Grouping of entities that are similar and related to each other.
Classification: two important functions:
a) recovery of information
b) comparative research. Information storage.
1) Classes should be as homogeneous as possible
2) Attribution according to most common characteristics,
3) If the differences are too great, create a new class
4) The degree of difference between classes is ordered in a hierarchy.
I 176
Taxonomy: two steps:
1) Differentiation of species (microtaxonomy).
2) Classification of species into related groups (macrotaxonomy).
I 177
Microtaxonomy: The delineation of the species
"Species Problem": Species usually means "organism type".
Problem: Males and females are also different types of organisms, just like young and adult organisms.
Def "Variety": (Linné, even Darwin): Deviations that are slightly smaller than those of a new species. ("typological" or "essential concept of species"). ("Common essence" ("Nature")).
>Similarity.
"Typological concept of species: four characteristics:
1) Common "nature".
2) Between the species sharp discontinuity
3) Each species is spatially and temporally constant.
4) Possible variation within the species is strictly limited. ("Natural kind").
>Species, >Natural kinds, >Essence, >Essentialism.
I 178
MayrVsTypological Concept of Species: Darwin refutes the notion of ​​the "constancy of species". Populations vary geographically, individuals vary within a population. In the animate nature there are no types or essences!
Def twin species: (discovered only recently: spatially separated, but equally developed, discovered in almost all animal species), forces a new criterion for the delineatation of species: reproductive isolation of populations.
I 178
Biological Concept of Species (VsTypological Concept of Species): derives from this criterion of the lack of reproduction among one another.
I 183
Def Species Taxa: special populations or population groups that correspond to the species definition. They are entities ("individuals") and cannot be defined as such. Individuals cannot be defined, but are merely described and delineated.
>Definitions, >Definability.
I 185
Macrotaxonomy: The classification of species (in superordinate groups)
Groups: Usually easily recognizable: birds, butterflies, beetles.
Downward classification (actually identification). Dichotomy (Aristotelian), high time of medical botany.
E.g. warm-blooded or not warm-blooded, with feathers or not.
I 187
Upwards Classification/Mayr: Even Linné himself from 1770 onwards: better suited. Classes are distinguished and then grouped into superordinate groups. Unfortunately no strict methodology. There was no theoretical basis for the hierarchy.
Functional Classification: Sub-form of the upwards classification. Only selected features.
I 188
Two criteria: genealogy (common descent) and degree of similarity (extent of evolutionary change).

Causal classification: E.g. diseases according to causes: pathogen, aging process, toxic substances, genes, malignant changes, harmful radiation, etc.
>Causal explanation.
Any classification that takes into account the causes is subject to severe restrictions and can never become a purely artificial system.
I 189
"Taxon": Separate group of offspring. Each taxon consists of the descendants of the next common ancestor. "Monophyletic".
Genealogy: Does not a classification make! Similarity cannot be neglected, because the diverging branches were subject to changes of varying extend. Result: Classification into families, genera, divisions, orders.
>Systems, >Theories, >Explanation, >Causes, >Effects,
>Single-case causation.
Homology/Mayr: Relationship between species and higher taxa is shown by the occurrence of homologous features. I.e. a feature derived from the same feature of its next common ancestor.
>Homology.
I 373
You must always infer homology!
There is a lot of evidence for homology, e.g. position of a structure in relation to other structures, also transitional forms with fossil ancestors.
>Evidence.

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Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition.

Mayr I
Ernst Mayr
This is Biology, Cambridge/MA 1997
German Edition:
Das ist Biologie Heidelberg 1998


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