parsimony/biology

[Pierre Deleporte]

I agree with Zdenik Skala "3 points", with the precision :

(3) ... the picture-of-evolution "phylogeny" (or pattern) depends on the
methodology which in turn depends on our assumed picture-of-evolution
"evolutionary mechanisms" (or process).

There are surely problems of testability of the latter (we have no time
machine), but no circularity is involved as Zdenik formulation taken
literally would suggest (quoted below: "picture" depending on assumed
"picture"...).

best,
Pierre

At 09:56 26/02/01 +0100, Zdenik Skala wrote :

>(3) hence, not only that the "parsimony" (cladistic) is biology as well as
>logic; moreover the underlying hypotheses about the character change pattern
>(splitting, reticulate...) and speed (low, high) are basically untestable
>hypotheses (the "picture of evolution" depends on the methodology which in
>turn depends on our assumed "picture of evolution").
>Best!
>Zdenek Skala
>
Pierre Deleporte
CNRS UMR 6552 - Station Biologique de Paimpont
F-35380 Paimpont   FRANCE
Téléphone : 02 99 61 81 66
Télécopie : 02 99 61 81 88