By evolutionary platonism I mean the idea that there are forms or archetypes or blueprints, but these are not permanent. Like everything else, they also undergo change and transformation. An example of this way of thinking is Rupert Sheldrake's Morphogenetic Fields, one of the most profound philosophical ideas of the twentieth century, and still considered heresy by the mainstam establishment.
Unlike Cladistics, Phenetics,
and Evolutionary Systemmatics, according
to all of which only the species is "real", this
position considers every taxonomic ranking as "real". In terms of
philosophcal categories, it is idealistic
rather than nominalistic.
Biology (the study of life)
thus becomes Biosophy (the
wisdom of life), and living organisms are seen as the external expression
of spiritual beings.
There are three ways to categorise organisms in such a taxonomy.
According to Morphotype, as generated by the Morphogenetic Fields and convergent or parrallel evolution, iirrespective of the phylogenetic background. Dolphins, sharks and ichthyosaurs are similiar in appearance and lifestyle (stereamline marine carnivores), even though only distantly related. Includes Polyphyletic, Paraphyletic and Monophyletic taxa.
According to Morphotype as a fixed stage in the overall phylogenetic process. e.g. fish, amphibia. and reptiles all all fixed categories, like in the traditional (pre-evolutionist) Linnean arrangement. The amphibian is a fixed stage or archetype between the fish (which lives solely in water) and the reptile (which can live completely on dry land). Includes Paraphyletic and Monophyletic taxa.
According to the dynamic phylogenetic process of evolution.
Each taxon is a dynamic process of change. This perspective is much
closer to the understanding of quantum physics, chaos theory, the I Ching,
etc. Includes e.g. the Theropsida
(in cladistics called Synapsida) as a group embracing reptile-like pelycosauria,
mammal-like
reptiles, and true mammals. The pelycosaurs, mammal-like reptiles,
and mammals are three stages in a single overall evolutionary process -
the transition from the fixed reptile stage to the fixed mammal stage.
Includes Paraphyletic and Monophyletic
taxa.
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