Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | From Assessing to Conserving Biodiversity |
| Subtitle of host publication | Conceptual and Practical Challenges |
| Editors | Elena Casetta, Jorge Marques da Silva, Davide Vecchi |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media B.V. |
| Chapter | 8 |
| Pages | 167-193 |
| Number of pages | 27 |
| Edition | 1. |
| ISBN (electronic) | 978-3-030-10991-2 |
| ISBN (print) | 978-3-030-10990-5 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jun 2019 |
Publication series
| Name | History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences |
|---|---|
| Volume | 24 |
| ISSN (Print) | 2211-1948 |
| ISSN (electronic) | 2211-1956 |
Abstract
While species have long been seen as the principal units of biodiversity, with prominent roles in biodiversity research and conservation practice, the long-standing debate on the nature of species deeply problematizes their suitability as such units. Not only do the metaphysical questions remain unresolved what kinds of things species are, and whether species are at all real, there also is considerable disagreement on how to define the notion of species for use in practice. Moreover, it seems that different organism groups are best classified using different definitions of ‘species’, such that species of organisms in very different domains of biodiversity are not generally comparable units. In this chapter I will defend and elaborate the claim that species are not good units of biodiversity, focusing in the issue of species realism. I will sketch a pragmatic notion of ‘species’ that can be used as an epistemic tool in the context of biodiversity studies, without however involving a view of species as basic units of biodiversity or as the focal, real entities in biodiversity conservation.
Keywords
- Species, Species concepts, Species problem, Units of biodiversity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Ecological Modelling
- Environmental Science(all)
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Arts and Humanities(all)
- History and Philosophy of Science
Cite this
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From Assessing to Conserving Biodiversity: Conceptual and Practical Challenges. ed. / Elena Casetta; Jorge Marques da Silva; Davide Vecchi. 1. ed. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2019. p. 167-193 (History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences; Vol. 24).
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Contribution to book/anthology › Research › peer review
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - Are Species Good Units for Biodiversity Studies and Conservation Efforts?
AU - Reydon, Thomas A.C.
PY - 2019/6/18
Y1 - 2019/6/18
N2 - While species have long been seen as the principal units of biodiversity, with prominent roles in biodiversity research and conservation practice, the long-standing debate on the nature of species deeply problematizes their suitability as such units. Not only do the metaphysical questions remain unresolved what kinds of things species are, and whether species are at all real, there also is considerable disagreement on how to define the notion of species for use in practice. Moreover, it seems that different organism groups are best classified using different definitions of ‘species’, such that species of organisms in very different domains of biodiversity are not generally comparable units. In this chapter I will defend and elaborate the claim that species are not good units of biodiversity, focusing in the issue of species realism. I will sketch a pragmatic notion of ‘species’ that can be used as an epistemic tool in the context of biodiversity studies, without however involving a view of species as basic units of biodiversity or as the focal, real entities in biodiversity conservation.
AB - While species have long been seen as the principal units of biodiversity, with prominent roles in biodiversity research and conservation practice, the long-standing debate on the nature of species deeply problematizes their suitability as such units. Not only do the metaphysical questions remain unresolved what kinds of things species are, and whether species are at all real, there also is considerable disagreement on how to define the notion of species for use in practice. Moreover, it seems that different organism groups are best classified using different definitions of ‘species’, such that species of organisms in very different domains of biodiversity are not generally comparable units. In this chapter I will defend and elaborate the claim that species are not good units of biodiversity, focusing in the issue of species realism. I will sketch a pragmatic notion of ‘species’ that can be used as an epistemic tool in the context of biodiversity studies, without however involving a view of species as basic units of biodiversity or as the focal, real entities in biodiversity conservation.
KW - Species
KW - Species concepts
KW - Species problem
KW - Units of biodiversity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078098572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-10991-2_8
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-10991-2_8
M3 - Contribution to book/anthology
AN - SCOPUS:85078098572
SN - 978-3-030-10990-5
T3 - History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences
SP - 167
EP - 193
BT - From Assessing to Conserving Biodiversity
A2 - Casetta, Elena
A2 - da Silva, Jorge Marques
A2 - Vecchi, Davide
PB - Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
ER -