The Future of Systematics: Tree Thinking without the Tree.

Phylogenetic trees are meant to represent the genealogical history of life and apparently derive their justification from the existence of the tree of life and the fact that evolutionary processes are treelike. However, there are a number of problems for these assumptions. Here it is argued that onc...

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Published in:Philosophy of Science Vol. 79; no. 5; pp. 624 - 637
Main Author: Velasco, Joel D.
Format: Article
Published: Cambridge University Press Dec2012
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: The Future of Systematics: Tree Thinking without the Tree.
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        au: Velasco, Joel D.
        affil: California Institute of Technology, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences,MC101-40, Pasadena, CA91101
      su:
        Plant classification
        Trees
        Genealogy
        Cladistic analysis
        Criticism
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        subj:
          Plant classification
          Trees
          Genealogy
          Cladistic analysis
          Criticism
      ab: Phylogenetic trees are meant to represent the genealogical history of life and apparently derive their justification from the existence of the tree of life and the fact that evolutionary processes are treelike. However, there are a number of problems for these assumptions. Here it is argued that once we understand the important role that phylogenetic trees play as models that contain idealizations, we can accept these criticisms and deny the reality of the tree while justifying the continued use of trees in phylogenetic theory and preserving nearly all of what defenders of trees have called the "importance of tree thinking.
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    language: English
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