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Summary History of Biology - Lecture 2
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History of Biology – Lecture 2: The classification of nature: the taxonomic stylein biology
14-02-18
- Linnaean system: plant taxonomy
Sources of the taxonomical style
16-17-18th century.
Styles in science:
There are different ways of doing science, with varying:
- Ideals, goals for science, e.g. ‘elegance’ in math
- Ways to find knowledge e.g. calculation vs. experiment
- Ways to organize knowledge, e.g. taxonomy vs. formula
- Conceptions of valid knowledge, e.g. law vs. statistics
- Typical applications.
Different styles co-existed in biology, but the dominance of certain styles changed
through history.
*Taxonomical style does not use laboratories, but botanical gardens as place of
research.
Examples of styles:
- Experimental style
- Deductive style
- Analytical style
The taxonomic style in biology:
- Ideal: ordening/systematizing the world.
- Discovering knowledge: collecting specimens, often expeditions (e.g. The
Beagle).
- Organizing: brought together in collections
o Botanical garden, herbarium, natural history museums, zoos
- Validity: discussion about correct classification.
- With important applications in medicine and agriculture.
Sources of the taxonomic style:
A. Curiosity cabinets (rariteitenkabinetten)
- Collection of odd objects (plants, rocks, animals, relics, etc.)
- Status symbol of rich & noble
- To impress and amaze (German: ‘Wunderkammer’)
- To display connoisseurship: showing off with knowledge
- Began at the end of the 16th c. but especially strong during the 17th c.
Example: Hans Sloane
Hans Sloane went on a trip to Jamaica became physician of the governor and
discovered chocolate.
, Sloane’s observations:
- Collected fauna and flora in Jamaica
- Described earthquakes, etc.
B. Botanical Gardens, or ‘Hortus’
- 16th c.: emergence of botanical gardens for study purposes
o Started in the West, but here as well, the West was not first!
The origin of botanical gardens for herbs, vegetables and decoration is much older;
Both the Incas and the Aztecs had botanical gardens.
Botanical gardens were often used as:
- A place to study/learn about plants.
- A place to serve as medicines.
Linnaeus simplified taxonomy of these plants.
New functions of botanical gardens:
Not just medicine, but also:
- Economically interesting crops
- Ornamental plants
- Ornamental gardens of collectors: status, presentation of wealth.
As the ultimate status: an orangery (for dormant plants) or a menagerie to keep
exotic animals.
Banks and Solander were assistants of Linnaeus.
Botanical gardens and colonization:
Crops and new species were brought from expeditions or colonial trade.
Systematization involved integrating new plants in taxonomy of the classics (Aristotle,
Dioscorides)
And then cultivation and distribution:
- Potatoes (trough e.g. the Leiden botanical garden)
- Cassava, alfalfa
- Or coffee.
The botanical garden as a hobby and status symbol:
- Tulips were accidentally imported from the Ottoman Empire and became a
status symbol. The tulip culture was refined in the botanical garden of Leiden.
Also, explaining science, became a status symbol in the 17 th. C.
Clifford’s collection link to taxonomy.
Clifford was a wealthy banker, who possessed an orangerie as well as a menagerie.
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