The logical priority of the tree over characters and some of its consequences for taxonomy |
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Authors: | MIKAEL HÄRLIN |
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Institution: | Department of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Section of Biology and Chemistry, VäxjöUniversity, SE-351 95 Växjö, Sweden |
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Abstract: | The aim of the present paper is to explore the role of the character in phylogenetic systematics. I argue that too much emphasis is put on particular characters rather than congruence both in the choice of phylogenetic hypotheses and in taxonomic decisions. This means that the logical priority of the tree over the characters is neglected. To a large extent, this is a result of not paying enough attention to the individuality thesis which states that clades are historical individuals and hence contingent in nature. |
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Keywords: | phylogeny cladistics evolution taxon names phylogenetic taxonomy systematics history individuality Linnaean hierarchy circularity |
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