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The Philosophical Foundations of Systematica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

W. R. Thompson
Affiliation:
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control

Extract

At the time when the Entomological Society of Canada was founded, 88 years ago, the science of entomology was almost synonymous with systematics. I say almost synonymous, because important advances in the study of insect development and behaviour had already occurred and even economic entomology, which now absorbs nine-tenths of our professional effort, was already showing signs of growth. Nevertheless, the great names in entomology were still those of the systematists. The work of description and classification was still the most absorbing interest in the entomological field.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1952

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References

1 184a, 10–20.

2 De Partibus Animalium, Bk. 1, Ch. 5, 644b, 645a.

3 De Consolatione Philosophiae.

4 Encyl. Britt., 14th Ed., Vol. 18, p. 433.

5 De Partibus Animalium, Bk. 1, Ch. 1–4.

6 Gedanken über Entomologie. V. Int. Ent. Congress, II, Travaux, pp. 151 et seq. 1933.

7 In Hist, de la Nation Française, Ed. Gabriel Hanotaux, T.XV, Vol. 2, 1924.

8 Discours de la Méthode, 4ième Partie.

9 Discours de la Méthode, 6ième Partie.

10 La Deduction Relativiste, No. 124 etc. 1925.

11 cf. Gilson, E.. La Philosophie au Moyen Age, Ch. IX, 3, 4, pp. 638687. 1944.Google Scholar

12 Ann. Ent. Soe. America. Vol. XXXIV, Vol. 2, p. 287. 1941.

13 l.c., pp. 461–474. 1940.

14 cf. Aquinas. Summa Theologica I. Q. 32, art. 1, ad 2.

15 cf. Johnson, F. R.. Astronomical Thought in Renaissance England, p. 106. 1937.Google Scholar

16 cf. Gilson, l.c., Ch. IX, 1.

17 cf. L'Evolution Créatrice.

18 The Principles of Systematic Entomology, p. 63. 1928.

19 l.c., 3rd Ed., p. 4, 1934.

20 l.c., Pt. XII, Sect. XXVIII, 1942.

21 Le problème de l'Evolution, p. 110. 1931.

22 In spite of the wonderful advances that have been made in this field, I doubt that the systematist can thus define the necessary entity he is attempting to delimit.

23 Horace, , Carmina, III, 30, 1.Google Scholar