[Sofa King]

"One of the problems with the Origins of the Species, is biologists have a CRAPPY definintion of what a species is."

That's because defining a specie, from an evolutionary standpoint, basically involves drawing arbitrary lines to break up a smooth continuum. 'Species' are a human-imposed division used to make classifying things easier for study. There is no absolute natural definition for one.

[Palisades]

'Species' are a human-imposed division used to make classifying things easier for study. There is no absolute natural definition for one.

It's an interesting question- under the generally accepted definition, if two types of animals cannot breed to create fertile offspring, that would make them different species.

Under that definition, we would have to carve up dogs into several different species, as many breeds of dog cannot naturally mate with other breeds (Great Danes and chihuahuas).

You're right- species is a human construct.

[Doctor Stochastic]

...defining a specie...

[Pedant Mode='ON']

[Pedant Mode='OFF']

[ml1954]

That's because defining a specie, from an evolutionary standpoint, basically involves drawing arbitrary lines to break up a smooth continuum. 'Species' are a human-imposed division used to make classifying things easier for study. There is no absolute natural definition for one.

Well said. It can't be repeated enough.

[LogicWings]

That's because defining a specie, from an evolutionary standpoint, basically involves drawing arbitrary lines to break up a smooth continuum. 'Species' are a human-imposed division used to make classifying things easier for study. There is no absolute natural definition for one.

Yeah, you get it. Everything is now a "transitional" species. The fallacy of reification is what defines "species" as what exists now.

I asked one of those IDiots out there, who cowardly chose not to answer; are wolves, dogs, coyotes and dingos different species or just one specie? They can freely interbreed but they are considered separate species. Kind of destroys the concept, doesn't it?