The species concept as a cognitive tool for biological anthropology.

摘要: Taxonomy is caught between the search for "perfect" theory and an elusive biological variability. The lack of major advances in issues related to how "species" other taxonomic categories are defined suggests that perhaps we should avoid excessively rigid formalism this regard. risk a separation elegant but useless theories confusing applications tools. Communication one main functions taxonomy, stability parameters taxonomy users be sensitive to. An excess may generate anachronistic consequences while continuous revisions make tool scarcely practical. current tendency pushes toward more fragmentation biologically valid taxa. While specialists enjoy such challenges, many feel bit nervous discouraged when trying use constantly changing. Debates over would seem particularly unrewarding fields with limited samples scarce diversity, as palaeoanthropology. In context, where information available rarely sufficient supply consistent taxonomical evidence, there frequently excessive efforts create debate on species separations. maintain purely theoretical level, or else distrust reliable taxonomy. A compromise (and recommended) choice these two extremes rely shared reasonable interpretations homogeneous evolutionary units, without diving into fine-grained will remain, however, unresolved. tool, not goal, biologist. Our mind needs discrete recognizable objects structure our perception reality. There no reason expect nature works same way.