Pluralism is the Answer! What is the Question?

Abstract

This essay provides a critical assessment of species pluralism, a popular strategy to explain the discordance characterizing contemporary systematics. Specifically, my aim is to present and scrutinize species pluralism, and to discuss whether it provides a fruitful concept in biology. The article begins by distinguishing two independent theses often associated with pluralism: 'heterogeneity' and 'theory dependence.' Next, it examines how these theses have been developed in the scientific and philosophical literature. I conclude by suggesting that the overarching expression 'species pluralism' be dropped in favor of more perspicuous labels. Keywords species problem • species pluralism • species eliminativism • heterogeneity • theory-dependence • individuality thesis Part of the special issue Species in the Age of Discordance, guest-edited by Matthew H. Haber and Daniel J. Molter.