Classifying Life, Reconstructing History and Teaching Diversity: Philosophical Issues in the Teaching of Biological Systematics and Biodiversity

Classification is a central endeavor in every scientific field of work. Classification in biology, however, is distinct from classification in other fields of science in a number of ways. Thus, understanding how biological classification works is an important element in understanding the nature of b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science & education 2013-02, Vol.22 (2), p.189-220
Main Author: Reydon, Thomas A. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
Biological Sciences
Classification
Education
History
Philosophy of Science
Science Education
Science Instruction
Science Teachers
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Summary:Classification is a central endeavor in every scientific field of work. Classification in biology, however, is distinct from classification in other fields of science in a number of ways. Thus, understanding how biological classification works is an important element in understanding the nature of biological science. In the present paper, I discuss a number of philosophical issues that are characteristic for classification in biological science, paying special attention to questions related to science education. My aims are (1) to provide science educators and others concerned with the teaching of biology with an accessible overview of the philosophy of biological classification and (2) to show how knowledge of the philosophy of classification can play an important role in science teaching.
ISSN:0926-7220
1573-1901
DOI:10.1007/s11191-011-9366-z