<i>Bionomina</i>, a forum for the discussion of nomenclatural and terminological issues in biology

Abstract

Science is an encounter between reality and language. It is based on objects and facts, apprehended through observation and experimentation, and on descriptive, predictive and explanatory concepts, models and theories, expressed through language. Accurate, unambiguous and universal communication is crucial for science to operate and develop. As well stated by clear-sighted scientists and historians of science like Ernst Mayr, an important, although often underrated, ground of disagreement, or of false agreement, among scientists, is the terminology they use. Not rarely, different colleagues or schools of thought erroneously think they disagree (or agree), simply because they use different terms for the same concept, or the same term for different concepts. Therefore scientific terms, i.e., simple words, play a crucial role in the scientific activity. This is particularly true of biology, particularly of the fields that deal with the comparative and

The <i>International Code of Zoological Nomenclature</i> must be drastically improved before it is too late

“…In order to be able to deal with them, i.e., to study and use them, or to protect ourselves from them, and to predict some of their properties, we need a scientific discipline that allows to discriminate and classify them (taxonomy*), and another one that allows to designate them (nomenclature*), both being part of the larger biological discipline of systematics* (Dubois, 2010f).…”

“…Although general Principles, guidelines and recommendations can be given for an efficient scientific taxonomy of organisms (Dayrat 2005;Dubois 2005c: 371-375;Valdecasas et al 2008; among many others), these should not be formalised under a "code of taxonomy", as this might freeze the evolution of the discipline and bind it to a particular "school of thought" (Dubois 2010f). Like in all other scientific disciplines, a harmonious development of the field requires to respect "the freedom of taxonomic thought or actions" (Anonymous 1999: 2).…”

“…In the meanwhile, as announced in its first Editorial (Dubois 2010f), the journal Bionomina will be acting as a "forum", being opened to the publication of contributions discussing all issues of biological nomenclature and terminology.…”

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“…Our planet is inhabited by a vast diversity of organisms, including millions of animal species, less than 2 millions, i.e., probably less than 10 %, have been described so far (Hammond 1992;Chapman 2009). In order to be able to deal with them, i.e., to study and use them, or to protect ourselves from them, and to predict some of their properties, we need a scientific discipline that allows to discriminate and classify them (taxonomy*), and another one that allows to designate them (nomenclature*), both being part of the larger biological discipline of systematics* (Dubois, 2010f).…”

“…As for the way taxonomy, as a discipline, works, this has been evolving over time and several distinct paradigms (from the "design of God" to the "tree of life") have been in force subsequently, with no evidence that the "universal tree" is the "final" one (Doolittle 1999;Dubois 2005c). Although general Principles, guidelines and recommendations can be given for an efficient scientific taxonomy of organisms (Dayrat 2005;Dubois 2005c: 371-375;Valdecasas et al 2008; among many others), these should not be formalised under a "code of taxonomy", as this might freeze the evolution of the discipline and bind it to a particular "school of thought" (Dubois 2010f). Like in all other scientific disciplines, a harmonious development of the field requires to respect "the freedom of taxonomic thought or actions" (Anonymous 1999: 2).…”