...the amount of decision making and judgment needed to define a species. As Darwin observed: "In short we shall have to treat species in the same manner...merely artificial combinations made for convenience" (Darwin 1859:485). Darwin concluded: "This may not be a cheering prospect; but we shall at least be...

...specifically rejected essenlialist ideas of a "true meaning" of species. In Darwin's t18591 words: In short, we shall have to treat species in the same manner...undiscovered and undiscoverable essence of the term species, 1pp. 484-5, emphasis added1. Darwin and Wallace realized that species were often reproductively incompatible,...

...Darwin, in The Origin of Species, appeared to take a nominalistic position on the concept of species: "We shall have to treat species in the same manner...naturalists treat genera, who admit that genera are merely combinations made for convenience. This may not be a cheering prospect; but we shall at least be free...

...combinations made for convenience. This may not be a cheering prospect; but we shall at least be free from the vain search for the undiscovered and undiscoverable essence of the term species" (1936a, 371). Some scholars interpret this Darwinian denial of essentialism to mean that since Homo...

...we can dimly foresee that there will be a considerable revolution in natural history. ... In short, we shall have to treat species in the same manner...undiscovered and undiscoverable essence of the term species. The other and more general departments of natural history will rise greatly in interest. The terms...

...specific names; and in this case scientific and common language will come into accordance. In short, we shall have to treat species in the same manner...not be a cheering prospect; but we shall at least be free from the vain search for the undiscovered and undiscoverable essence of the term species. (pp....

...the same status as Plato's essences. This is in fundamental opposition to Darwin's recognition that "we shall have to treat species in the same manner...merely artificial combinations made for convenience" (Darwin, 1859:485). In our own century, Simpson has reiterated Darwin's view with admirable clarity...

...because its emphasis on the concrete and the particular offered a way out of essentialism: In short, we shall have to treat species in the same manner...that genera are merely artificial combinations made lor convenience. This may not lie a cheering prospect; but we shall at least be freed from the vain...

...correspond to little in nature may seem radical, but it is far from new. In the Origin, Darwin writes, we shall have to treat species in the same manner...merely artificial combinations made for convenience (1859[1964].485). I look at the term species as one arbitrarily given for the sake of convenience to...

...which species change, Darwin demurred somewhat when he suggested "We shall have to treat species as ... merely artificial combinations made for convenience....undiscovered and undiscoverable essence of the term species."23 JBS Haldane concurred with Darwin: "The concept of a species is a concession to our linguistic...