Striking a balance, weighting and Cladistics

[Gabriel A. Eickhoff]

Thomas,
Earlier you stated:

>I think what is hoped with weighting is that we can discover which
>characters are indeed most indicative of the pathways of evolution, i.e.,
>which are genuine synapomorphies.  Whether that is possible or not, I'll
>leave to wiser heads to debate.

   See, I think that this is the problem. With weighting we are not
"discovering" which characters are indeed most indicative of the pathways of
evolution. We are not discovering anything, by weighting we are deciding
(unfortunately, usually in a subjective way), we are making up which
characters are most indicative. Not only that but it is commonly just on a
whim...saying, "Oh yes, this one is more important that this one, and twice
as important as this other one." Thats not discovery, its being judgemental
and subjective.

Cheers-
-Gabriel A. Eickhoff
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology
Ann Arbor, MI
48105