Single Idea 17367

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 5. Species]

Full Idea

The four main concepts of a species are 'phenetic' (similarity of traits), 'biological species' (interbreeding and isolated), 'ecological niche' (occupying an adaptive zone), or 'phylogenetic-cladistic' (start and finish at splits in lineage)

Gist of Idea

Species are phenetic, biological, niche, or phylogenetic-cladistic

Source

report of Michael Devitt (Resurrecting Biological Essentialism [2008], 4) by PG - Db (ideas)

Book Reference

Devitt,Michael: 'Putting Metaphysics First' [OUP 2010], p.223


A Reaction

[my summary of Devitt's list] Devitt attacks the whole lot, in favour of essentialism - the species being fixed by its underlying explanatory mechanisms.

Related Idea

Idea 17381 Phylogenetics involves history, and cladism rests species on splits in lineage [Dupré]