[tcs-lc] "Parent" Taxon in definition

[Kennedy, Jessie]

> 4) Does indication of a "Parent" Taxon, in any way, contribute to the

> definition of a child TaxonConcept definition?

> When presented with the following information: "ConceptA is Parent of

> ConceptB", have we learned anything about the defnition of ConceptB?
We

> certainly have not learned anything about the circumscription of
ConceptB,

> so if we have learned something about the definition of ConceptB, then
the

> definition of ConceptB must include more than its circumscription (but
how

> much more -- anything else besides a hierarchical placement within a

> parent

> Concnept?).

 

In my opinion it doesn't add to the definition of the concept. Trying to
remember why we did this I think it was to deal with the case that a new
species was added to a genus for example without trying to redefine the
genus specifically. Now as I write this I know (and agree) that we are
redefining the genus but this was a case we were asked to support - I'm
not saying whether or not it's the right thing to do. 

(slightly at a tangent... - In this case I wouldn't have a is child of
pointing from the genus to the species. The reason is that if the
pointers are directional you can choose to back traverse pointers but
you then capture the smeantics of what was meant.)

 

Jessie


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