nomenclature: identifying versus classifying

[Richard Jensen]

On Sun, 15 Oct 2000, Curtis Clark wrote:

>  From an information science perspective, the complete separation of naming
> and classifying is highly desirable. But humans use names most effectively
> in a system of classification, either explicit or implicit. This thread has
> dealt with the contrasting needs of phylogeneticists and other users of
> classifications, but the contrast between the needs of information systems
> and people is perhaps just as great.

I must be missing something here.  If names are completely separated from
a system of classification, then they exist in an information vacuum.  The
only way a name can provide information is when it is used to
in reference to something else.  I suppose if *every* name were unique,
then we would need no system of classification.  But, there are
limitations on our ability to provide the needed number of unique names.

Species names are designed to be unique, but only within the framework of
a system classification (rank-based or not).  Even then, we get caught up
in the question of whether or not names carry intensional meaning.  David
Hull has argued that species names are proper names, that proper names
refer to individuals and carry no intensional meaning (i.e., are not bound
to any specific properties of the individual having that name), ergo,
species names say nothing about the properties of the species.

I, on the other hand, view species names as class names, which are
intensional names.  Gold is a class name because all atoms referrable to
gold have the same properties.  In my view, Quercus rubra L. is a class
name referring to all trees in the genus Quercus that have certain
properties.  Thus, Quercus rubra is a class name.  If taxonomic names are
class names, then they must be intensional names and the properties that
define them are inherent to the system of classification used.

Curtis is right, humans use names (whether individual or class names) most
effectively in a system of classification.  Thus, our naming conventions
should be designed to provide as much information as possible about the
individuals and classes being named.

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |