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Character analysis in cladistics: abstraction, reification, and the search for objectivity
1Philosophy Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA. rgw@ucsc.edu
Acta Biotheoretica
|January 9, 2009
Summary
Character reification poses significant risks to cladistic inference. This study introduces objectivity criteria to identify robust biological characters, improving phylogenetic analysis by minimizing reification errors.
Area of Science:
- Systematic Biology
- Phylogenetic Inference
- Philosophy of Science
Background:
- Character identification in cladistics is inherently theory-laden, lacking a neutral perspective.
- Distinguishing robust biological characters from erroneously reified ones is crucial for accurate phylogenetic analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the dangers of character reification in cladistic inference.
- To propose methods for identifying and employing robust biological characters.
- To highlight the neglect of character analysis in philosophical discussions of phylogenetics.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of the theory-laden nature of character identification.
- Identification and discussion of six objectivity criteria for robust primary homology statements.
- Analysis of examples to illustrate the application of objectivity criteria.
Main Results:
- Character reification can lead to flawed cladograms, even with sound phylogenetic analysis.
- Objectivity criteria offer a means to mitigate character reification.
- Philosophical focus has been disproportionately on phylogenetic analysis over character analysis.
Conclusions:
- Minimizing character reification is essential for reliable cladistic inference.
- Robust character analysis, guided by objectivity criteria, is foundational to accurate phylogenetics.
- Further philosophical attention to character analysis is warranted.
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