Alternative Views of Folk Classification

Abstract

Brent Berlin suggested general and universal principles of classification and nomenclature for living beings, which have been undertaken by different researchers. However, some scientists have put forth a set of evidence that does not corroborate some of the Berlin principles. They suggest that classifications exhibit characteristics that can vary in different cultures, without following universal principles. Thus, criticism of the universal principles of folk taxonomy has emerged, showing that different cultures and societies use different cognitive schemes to classify living beings, without adherence to the plan devised by Berlin. Researchers are proposing competing ideas to the universal principles to better understand how different human groups classify living beings. Thus, the major criticisms of Berlin’s folk classification model will be presented in this chapter, as well as discussion of an alternative proposal to understand folk classification and current advances in studies on this topic.