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Topics in the Philosophy of Biology pp 353–371Cite as

Species Concepts and Definitions

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Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 27))

Abstract

The importance of one fact of nature is being recognized to an ever increasing extent: that the living world is comprised of more or less distinct entities which we call species. Why are species so important? Not just because they exist in huge numbers, and because each species, when properly studied, turns out to be different from every other, morphologically and in many other respects. Species are important because they represent an important level of integration in living nature. This recognition is fundamental to pure biology, no less than to all subdivisions of applied biology. An inventory of the species of animals and plants of the world is the base line of further research in biology. Whether he realizes it or not, every biologist — even he who works on the molecular level — works with species or parts of species and his findings may be influenced decisively by the choice of a particular species. The communication of his results will depend on the correct identification of the species involved, and thus, on its taxonomy.

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  1. Harvard University, USA

    Ernst Mayr

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© 1976 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland

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Mayr, E. (1976). Species Concepts and Definitions. In: Topics in the Philosophy of Biology. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 27. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1829-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-1829-6_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-0596-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-1829-6

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