[Taxacom] Why Taxonomy does NOT matter: She Unnames Them ...

[Karen Wilson]

What a great story, Dan!

It reminds me of the article/story by Duane Isely in Taxon 21: 1-12 (1972), which looked at the scenario of all taxonomists and literature disappearing overnight. 
It probably won't be known to zoologists because it was in a botanical journal but it's a good read for any biologist.

Karen Wilson

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Karen L. Wilson  |  Secretary-General, XVIII International Botanical Congress  - to take place in Melbourne July 2011  www.ibc2011.com  |  Senior Research Scientist  Plant Diversity Section  |  National Herbarium of NSW  |   Phone:  9231 8137   |  Fax:   9251 7231  |  email: karen.wilson at rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au


-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of Dan Bickel
Sent: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 10:20 AM
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: [Taxacom] Why Taxonomy does NOT matter: She Unnames Them ...



Dear Taxacomers:



As in most things, we are all trapped in our small little worlds.



Yes, Taxonomy does not matter.



Consider all the plants and animals that existed without names for millions of years, and (Gasp!) not  even knowing their autapomorphies or sister taxa!



Below is a delightful story from Ursula K. LeGuin, about a mischievous Eve undoing Adam's work (the oldest profession, etc.).



It puts things in perspective.



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



She Unnames Them



Ursula K. Le Guin

The New Yorker, 21 January 1985


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