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Of elephants and errors: naming and identity in Linnaean taxonomy
Joeri Witteveen1, Staffan Müller-Wille2
1Section for History and Philosophy of Science, Department of Science Education, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. jw@ind.ku.dk.
History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences
|September 30, 2020
Summary
Errors in taxonomic identification have evolved historically. Modern taxonomists can err in ways Carl Linnaeus could not, due to differing institutional conventions in biological nomenclature.
Area of Science:
- Systematic biology
- History and philosophy of science
Background:
- The concept of taxonomic error is central to understanding biological nomenclature.
- Carl Linnaeus, the founder of modern taxonomy, established foundational principles for naming and classifying organisms.
Observation:
- A recent study suggested a potential nomenclatural error by Linnaeus in naming *Elephas maximus*.
- Examining Linnaeus's botanical naming practices reveals a distinct approach to taxon identification compared to contemporary methods.
Findings:
- The possibility of making errors in identifying taxonomic groups is historically contingent on prevailing nomenclature systems.
- Linnaeus's concept of taxa as "nominal spaces" differed from modern views, allowing taxa to persist despite reallocation of members.
Implications:
- Understanding historical taxonomic practices is crucial for interpreting nomenclatural stability and potential errors.
- This research reframes the historical understanding of taxonomic identification and error within the context of evolving scientific conventions.
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