Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverShaded
Genetics is science, Evolution is science, chemical thermodynamics is science, taxonomy is cataloging.
Out of curiosity, what is the definition of a species?
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I recommend the reading of Popper's "Realism and the Aim of Science". The goal of science is explanation. Taxonomy communicates evolutionary trajectories, which *explain* the character state distribution on the organisms. Accordingly, names are a short-hand for the *explanation* of character state distribution in an evolutionary framework.
Re species, read previous post of this thread.
I guess then those chemical elements and physical constants are also just "cataloging". Possibly try to do chemistry without the elements. Good luck!
never mind, I digressed ...
Once you revised a group and described a few taxa, then you can contribute in an informed manner. I've monographed a couple of families and described 100 taxa thus far.