Carol Kaesuk Yoon Naming Nature the Clash Between Instinct and Science Review

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"The human being mind evolved to believe in the gods. It did not evolve to believe in biological science." – Eastward. O. Wilson

One reason I read few books is that they are normally written by man persons, and I have a dim view of the human person. On the other manus of course, books produced by editorial committee usually endure from their own incoherence and disorganization, which perhaps suggests an equally dim prospect for human being cooperation.

"Naming Nature" is written by a very axiomatic private and centers

"The man mind evolved to believe in the gods. It did not evolve to believe in biology." – E. O. Wilson

I reason I read few books is that they are usually written by human persons, and I take a dim view of the human person. On the other hand of course, books produced past editorial committee normally suffer from their own incoherence and disorganization, which perhaps suggests an every bit dim prospect for human cooperation.

"Naming Nature" is written by a very evident individual and centers on a unmarried organizing principle, described by the author as a revelation of sorts: that humans possess an intuitive native sense of the organisation of the "natural earth," a sense made manifest (though there much extended and elaborated) in traditional Linnaean taxonomy. Upon this the author hangs a sketch of the history of the naming and organization of the planet'southward species through Linnaeus, Darwin, Mendel, Mayr, numeric and molecular taxonomic methods, and finally contemporary (and wholly evolutionarily determined) cladistics and systematics.

Dr. Yoon connects her merits of an innate human understanding of biological organization with that adequately standard history-of-science narrative in terms of always an increasing conflict and contradiction, observing the descriptions of taxonomy growing always more afar and removed from life as experienced.

Then, with this widening gulf in heed, she turns to what she holds to be the public's indifference and/or incomprehension in the face of scientific authorisation's study on the planet's various biological crises (of bio-diversity, "the 6th great extinction," the health of non-biological natural systems, etc.), suggesting that this unresponsiveness is the result, at least in some significant part, of the growing distance between the premises and language of natural science and the public's "natural" sense of things.

All the same, much as this public policy dilemma might seem to be the intended pinnacle of her statement, that issue is not, evidently, the real indicate at all. The actual protagonist of "Naming Nature" is the "umwelt," a term Dr. Yoon has appropriated from the work of Jakob von Uexküll (1864–1944), an invertebrate researcher who early in the 20th century, apparently taking Kant to heart, began to focus on the phenomenology of the animals he studied, hoping to explore them "as subjects, non objects." (To the extent Uexküll became preoccupied with the internal dynamics of his species' umwelt, his work seems at present mainly grist for semioticians and cybernetic studies.)

And from this effort to map the cognitive feedback loops of ticks, body of water urchins and amoebae, Dr. Yoon has derived her own rather diminished human analog, that of our species' ostensible inborn ordering of the plants and animals we meet.

In describing her use of the term, Yoon enlists a fair amount of more or less suggestive evidence. Amongst the more persuasive: a universal similarity in the anthropological record of folk taxonomies, the wide case of human binomial naming (from pivot oak to New York to Lao Tze), and the dramatic miracle of discrete neurological deficit leading to the disability to name or recognize, exclusively, living things.

Those examples, however, stand among a flood of alleged umwelt manifestations in "Naming Nature," some registering nearly equally mere curiosities, if that: the "fact" that folk taxonomies and mayhap human being memory (as suggested by the listings of Dioscorides, her own husband and others) might self-limit at 500 to 600 genera, and that those folk taxonomies regularly correlate species as "brother," "sister," or "parent" species; that many not-human species are able to name, sort and communicate varieties of creatures (usually predators) active in their environments; that in a large-sample report students unfamiliar with the Huambisa language (of the Peruvian rain forest) scored a 58% hit rate identifying Huambisa species names as either fish or fowl; and that, of her ain daughter's beginning 25 spoken words, 13 of them referred to living things…

On the same tack as the last instance Yoon also considers the decoration of North American children's rooms (all those little bunnies, duckies, teddy bears and other stuffed animals) and the tales those children are told: "The Cat in the Hat," "Peter Rabbit," "Winnie-the-Pooh," etc.

And occasionally she wanders still farther afield, equally when (afterwards suggesting the mysteries of chicken sexing are somehow umwelt related) she considers the modern excellence in commercial taxonomy, the skills displayed in navigating a earth of brands and logos, the naming and recognizing of the creatures of commerce, the Nikes, McDonalds, One thousand&Ms, Fords, etc., citing along the way a Dutch study in which two year olds demonstrated their proficiency at identifying brands as afar from their lives as Mercedes, Heineken and Camel – a line of idea easily casting more doubtfulness on the biological essence of her umwelt theory than conspicuously reinforcing it.

As we've seen, Yoon often points to the child'due south apprehension of the natural world, and it might not be too unfair to characterize her umwelt claim in those terms: we humans possess a elementary, innate, likely hardwired style of perception for the organization of the species around us: There are trees. There are shrubs. There are flowers. There are birds, fish and creepy-crawly things. And not simply are there dogs, but there are poodle dogs, German shepherd dogs, daschund dogs, terrier dogs, etc. Non only copse but maple trees, and not only maple trees but silvery maple trees, ruby maple trees, Norway maple copse, etc. This is how we naturally think: rather like children, simply in a mode capable of Linnaean extension and sophistication.

Yet, Yoon reminds us, science has come to claim otherwise. At that place actually are no fish, per se, systematics instructs. Whales are related to camels and hippopotami, lungfish more akin to cows than salmon, birds are dinosaurs, etc. Our minds, she argues, have turned against themselves. The book'due south subtitle is: "The Clash Between Instinct and Scientific discipline."

So, what is Dr. Yoon describing?

Get-go of all she is describing what, notwithstanding Science'southward neat expedition from the prima facie to the occult, remains still nameless: the biota, the bios, the animal systematics (and so far) insists we are, the enormous assemblage of familiar cellular and subcellular routines occupying the planet's skin from miles below its surface to miles above it, much varied in accidentals but apparently essentially one in gist (if not quite in uncomplicated lineage), the many billion yr old multiform entity presently sending tracers (microbial, for the most office) out into and across our star system.

And when human being language (or English language at to the lowest degree) at concluding gives this thing a common name, will it be some defeat of our special "human nature" as manifest in Dr. Yoon's umwelt? A victory for our nonhuman identity? For the heed? For truth?

Then secondly, Dr. Yoon is describing the mind, the mind at work.

The obvious fact that the history of many, if not nigh man disciplines follows a trajectory similar to that of taxonomy is not commented upon. As these likewise have become increasingly specialized and esoteric, a good many of the recent claims of mathematics, astronomy, geology, microbiology, fifty-fifty homo history itself, might be seen equally equally absurd on their confront and likewise counter to our presumed and intuited understandings of the world.

(And the works of our hands? 100 floor buildings, 200,000 ton ships, mile long bridge spans? None of these are conceivable without modes of analysis far beyond the sensible, the familiar, the expected, the intuitive or the obvious.)

And is it considering this sort of discrepancy is so obvious that "Naming Nature" never names it? Or is it rather that if named, it might suggest something of a category error, at to the lowest degree by omission, on Dr. Yoon'due south office?

That there are discrete areas (of some kind) of the human brain strongly implicated in the naming and recognition of plants and animals (as there are as well for the naming and recognition of faces, facial emotions, colors, clothing, letters, trunk parts, tools, abstruse vs. physical entities, naturally occurring vs. manufactured entities, fruits and vegetables, place names, verbs, etc.) is, similar so many reports of anomia generally, strangely fascinating and almost irresistible in its apparent hint at some profound root of humanity, if not some deeper essence of mind and affair. But equally the above parenthetical itemize suggests, that detail aphasia is hardly unique.

Children can indeed be regularly fascinated with learning complicated dinosaur (and Pokeman) taxonomies, but those propensities (to whatsoever extent they are universal, or have universal analogs) neither seem exceptional nor hardly even remarkable in view of the larger mural of man cognitive development ranging from the acquisition of handedness, language and number, the flowering of complex make-believe and story-telling activities, through the hundreds of other stereotypical behaviors our species' children are thrall to.

Finally, whether or not Dr. Yoon has produced a convincing demonstration of the special corner of human phenomenology she has tagged the "umwelt," that demonstration would not be, in itself, an identification of the crux of "The Clash Between Instinct and Science." Dr. Yoon's umwelt (and her umwelt disharmonize) are ultimately only an example of something wider and deeper than the conflict between our apprehension of other species and the evolving sophistication of modern natural science, and that she does not bring herself to consider that broader view eventually leaves "Naming Nature" frustratingly lacking and disappointingly naive.

Information technology is hard of grade to fault a history of taxonomy for not unraveling the knots of human being consciousness, only Yoon has, quite self-consciously, stepped beyond any attempt at simple history and into that other larger realm. That divergence I have no argument with, contextualization is a skilful thing, investigation of the implicit ground of an statement a skillful affair. My argument is simply that Dr. Yoon never really does either, never passes beyond her umwelt antechamber, nor even acknowledges it equally such. Then amazed by the unexpected discovery of this umwelt space and the illumination information technology apparently provides, she never proceeds to qualify or contextualize the place itself.

Given the turn her volume took (to her own admitted surprise) I would have taken a single chapter (at to the lowest degree) of such context. A recognition of the peculiarities of human intellection more often than not, a bit of serious reflection on the relation of things, thought and linguistic communication and the business organisation of experience and perception, ideation and brainchild, on the nature of mind in brusque, even if not a full essay on phenomenology, critical philosophy, or electric current thinking in the philosophy or neurology of consciousness.

In the end though, perhaps I misspoke when suggesting the protagonist of "Naming Nature" was Dr. Yoon's umwelt. In a real sense the protagonist of "Naming Nature" is Carol Yoon herself and its story is that of her umwelt epiphany; information technology is a conversion narrative full of the biography, confused excitement and enthusiasm (along with a bit of naive prescription) conversion accounts regularly entail.

And like many converts to a newly discovered thou organizing principle – the Freudian or Marxist economy, the Masonic conspiracy or even the presence of an attentive deity – it seems Dr. Yoon cannot imagine the insights of her epiphany as ever existence less than cardinal to the history of life and heed on the planet, rather than only an aspect of it.

Somewhen perhaps all epiphanies require curing, all need to shrink a bit to exist finally and profitably integrated into a broader fabric of thought and understanding.

Even God mayhap, once met, has to be put in place. If so, likely also the activities of the superior temporal sulcus and the lateral fusiform gyrus.

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The bits about the history of taxonomy as a science could have been an interesting book.

The bits about folk taxonomy and how people categorize life could take been an interesting volume.

Framing them in opposition to each other, though? At that place was lots of talk nigh the "devastation" of fish, of the idea that fish "don't be". Why? Flightless birds exist as actual, concrete creatures with features in common, and not classifying them together doesn't change their existence. You can group animals bas

The bits well-nigh the history of taxonomy as a science could accept been an interesting book.

The bits nearly folk taxonomy and how people categorize life could accept been an interesting book.

Framing them in opposition to each other, though? There was lots of talk nigh the "devastation" of fish, of the idea that fish "don't exist". Why? Flightless birds exist as actual, concrete creatures with features in common, and not classifying them together doesn't modify their existence. You can group animals based on relatedness and too accept a mental group for animals that might eat you, regardless of how close crocodiles and bears are on your relatedness list. You can have a group of animals you lot call fish because of their advent/behaviour, and the fact that it'southward not a "real" group in other contexts isn't relevant at all to this ane.

Just... is there something I'm missing? Why wasn't this two interesting shorter pieces?

(She was disappointingly vague about the facts she did present, non giving anything similar plenty detail - when talking about where the brain stores information nigh living things vs constructed objects, but with no mention of anything that wasn't clearly delineated as i or the other, or of whether this was identical for people in cultures that consider some things I class as inanimate to be breathing, or whether this translates across cultures at all - and then the two theoretical books are unlikely to have been great, merely I would have enjoyed them more than.)

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Apr 09, 2011 Debbie rated it liked it

Fascinating volume most the history of scientific classification of nature that started with Linneaus. This is a book about the history of taxonomy. I never knew that his classifications were replaced in the 80'southward with a whole new system. Author goes on a bit also long about the "ummwelt", the built-in view of ordering that humans have in their brains. I skipped a affiliate or two. Fascinating volume about the history of scientific nomenclature of nature that started with Linneaus. This is a book about the history of taxonomy. I never knew that his classifications were replaced in the 80's with a whole new organisation. Writer goes on a bit too long about the "ummwelt", the built-in view of ordering that humans have in their brains. I skipped a affiliate or two. ...more than

Feb xx, 2010 Christy rated it it was ok

Preliminary review: I'1000 giving this ii stars instead of one solely because I now know more nigh the history of taxonomy than I did earlier and have discovered that it's actually interesting (even if I did have to sort through Yoon's language and ridiculous argument to get at that history). Longer review to come. Preliminary review: I'grand giving this 2 stars instead of i solely considering I at present know more than nearly the history of taxonomy than I did before and have discovered that information technology's really interesting (even if I did have to sort through Yoon'due south language and ridiculous argument to get at that history). Longer review to come. ...more than

Mixed feelings. At times it seemed the author was trying also hard and overstating the case, or oversimplifying concepts, and I had trouble following all the things she was attributing to the umwelt, or maybe I had trouble remembering the definition of umwelt. I enjoyed hearing about the history of taxonomy, her personal experiences equally a scientist, and the idea of respecting and valuing folk taxonomy.

May 15, 2016 Barry rated information technology it was ok

This is an interesting book. I'g more often than not glad I read it, and while it held my interest it is difficult to recommend others to read it. It rather felt similar there were three books mashed into one, ineffectively. The historical bits were the best and by far the nigh interesting and coherently organized. Interspersed with the coherent parts were rabbit trails into the author's own personal experiences and thoughts, monologues about evolution, and an odd fascination with the 'umvelt' (instinct?).

The

This is an interesting book. I'm mostly glad I read it, and while information technology held my involvement information technology is difficult to recommend others to read it. It rather felt similar there were three books mashed into i, ineffectively. The historical bits were the best and past far the almost interesting and coherently organized. Interspersed with the coherent parts were rabbit trails into the writer's own personal experiences and thoughts, monologues about evolution, and an odd fascination with the 'umvelt' (instinct?).

The author's own personal experiences and thoughts were fine to read about merely would have been ameliorate had they been included in a memoir rather than a historical exploration of taxonomy. Her adherence to development, while beauteous, came across as cloying and a fervent try to convince herself that development really is truthful. She goes and so far as to telephone call it a fact and denigrates anyone who dares excogitate of an alternate explanation for the being of life. In the end, Ms. Yoon's platitudes meet as self-serving sacrifices to her god, Evolution.

But the real oddity of the book is the umvelt, which apparently is difficult to explain, because despite all her repeated attempts she never really accomplishes it. The subtitle of the volume includes the word instinct, and that seems as expert of an explanation as any behind the thought of the umvelt. Waxing long about the umvelt concluded upwards feeling like an try to say something new instead of being content to compile what could have been a nice account of the history of taxonomy. Just using the word instinct would have cut about fifty pages out of the volume and made it more readable.

In short, this volume needs more aggressive editing. In that location were long paragraphs that were unnecessary because they aggrandize on a simple idea that needed but a sentence to explain. The added explanations were tiresome and even a footling insulting; does Ms. Yoon view humanity as a collection of dimwits? There was an entire chapter (or was information technology ii?) on brain damaged people whose presence in the book baffled me. Ostensibly the chapters were there to explain the umvelt, but they served as a lark - albeit an interesting i - and felt like a cheap fashion to hit a target number of pages.

Then there was the death of the fish. Ms. Yoon harped on this theme so much, attention grabbing as information technology may be, that by the time she actually explained how 'the fish died' information technology was anticlimactic. The new-namers say you lot can't have a fish family unit because y'all need to include cows in with fish according to their fancy-pants evolutionary theory. No joke: cows go with the fish. Humans possibly go in the same grouping, but details on exactly how the new-namers divide the animal kingdom were very vague.

Over again, this is an interesting book and I learned a off-white amount about taxonomy. The historical function of the volume is very well-written and well worth reading, but if that is what y'all are looking for I imagine there are other books about there that better serve the purpose.

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Sep 22, 2009 George rated it liked it

A fascinating history of taxonomy from Linnaeus to attempted evolutionary taxonomy to numerical taxonomy to molecular(Dna)taxonomy and finally to the logical use of evolutionary clades. The writer while clearly in the scientific camp bemoans the loss of the more instinctive or intuitive method used by Linnaeus. She points out that anthropologists have discovered a certain cultural universality in the ordering of found and animal species-- what she calls our "umweld".
Ms Yoon goes further in blami A fascinating history of taxonomy from Linnaeus to attempted evolutionary taxonomy to numerical taxonomy to molecular(DNA)taxonomy and finally to the logical use of evolutionary clades. The writer while clearly in the scientific camp bemoans the loss of the more instinctive or intuitive method used past Linnaeus. She points out that anthropologists have discovered a certain cultural universality in the ordering of plant and animal species-- what she calls our "umweld".
Ms Yoon goes further in blaming biological scientific discipline and scientists for the loss of our "umweld" which she says has resulted in our crass indifference to the preservation of species and biological diverseness.
She even suggests that nosotros are responsible for much of species extinction due to this crass indifference-- while clearly species extinction has been a outcome of evolution since the beginning of life.
I recollect her arguments go strained when she claims our instinct for biological classification has been replaced by "brand recognition". I further recollect she misses the broader view that all of scientific investigation has become less intuitive or instinctive. Little of the most important science today would satisfy the old Baconian exam of direct seeing, sensing, tasting, etc. We take necessarily become much more dependent on the use of models, theories and stiff but indirect evidence. When science entered the study of the largest and smallest entities, Cosmology and diminutive and sub atomic physics, we had left behind the "umweld" which the author describes. That "umweld" is necessarily stuck in place and fourth dimension.
Withal, none of this is intended to eliminate the usefulness of our "umweld" in our daily lives. The analogy to Newtonian vs. Einstein views of gravity is very advisable. Newtonian physics works very well in our every solar day lives and its results can be taken with balls. We simple need to be aware of the limitation of our "umweld". ...more

Jul 21, 2010 Kathy rated it really liked it

From Wikipedia - a discussion of the discussion "umwelt":

Each functional component of an umwelt has a pregnant and so represents the organism'south model of the globe. It is too the semiotic world of the organism, including all the meaningful aspects of the world for any particular organism, i.e. it can be h2o, nutrient, shelter, potential threats, or points of reference for navigation. An organism creates and reshapes its own umwelt when it interacts with the world. This is termed a 'functional circle'. Th

From Wikipedia - a give-and-take of the word "umwelt":

Each functional component of an umwelt has a meaning and so represents the organism'south model of the globe. It is also the semiotic world of the organism, including all the meaningful aspects of the earth for any particular organism, i.e. it can exist h2o, food, shelter, potential threats, or points of reference for navigation. An organism creates and reshapes its own umwelt when it interacts with the world. This is termed a 'functional circle'. The umwelt theory states that the listen and the world are inseparable, considering it is the mind that interprets the earth for the organism. Consequently, the umwelten of different organisms differ, which follows from the individuality and uniqueness of the history of every single organism. When two umwelten interact, this creates a semiosphere.

As a term, umwelt too unites all the semiotic processes of an organism into a whole. Internally, an organism is the sum of its parts operating in functional circles and, to survive, all the parts must work together co-operatively. This is termed the 'collective umwelt' which models the organism every bit a centralised system from the cellular level upwards. This requires the semiosis of any one role to be continuously continued to whatsoever other semiosis operating within the aforementioned organism. If anything disrupts this process, the organism will not operate efficiently. But, when semiosis operates, the organism exhibits goal-oriented or intentional behaviour.

Why is this of import? Because I felt similar the give-and-take was on every page of this book.

Despite the repetition that bugged me, this was quite interesting. It's a history and word of taxonomy (scientific classification) which sounds like really dry reading only information technology'south not. I learned a lot about Linnaeus, Darwin, Eastward.O. Wilson and the dissimilar types of taxonomy as they were developed through the years.

Scientific discipline lovers would relish this book.

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Aug 04, 2009 Michael rated it liked it

A perfect book to follow Andrea Wulf's The Brother Gardeners, Naming Nature examines the evolution of taxonomy from Linnaeus to cladistics with interesting coverage of evolutionary biological science, numerical taxonomy, and molecular biology. Yoon is fascinated with the human being Umwelt and its role both in creating traditional taxonomy and in causing our resistance to the scientific discipline of cladistics. Co-ordinate to Yoon, the homo brain is wired to take a taxonomic view of nature, and the parameters of that taxono A perfect book to follow Andrea Wulf'southward The Brother Gardeners, Naming Nature examines the evolution of taxonomy from Linnaeus to cladistics with interesting coverage of evolutionary biological science, numerical taxonomy, and molecular biological science. Yoon is fascinated with the human Umwelt and its role both in creating traditional taxonomy and in causing our resistance to the science of cladistics. According to Yoon, the human encephalon is wired to accept a taxonomic view of nature, and the parameters of that taxonomy are remarkably consistent across cultures. She regrets that the new scientific discipline of cladistics serves to distance humans from nature past creating taxonomies that are (in some notable cases) admittedly counterintuitive, because they do not match the human Umwelt. Despite the importance of the volume and all that I learned from it, I exercise have a few quibbles. The illustrations do not profoundly accelerate one'south understanding of the text, specially since the captions are but quotations from the text. The book is overwritten and could have been much shorter without losing its value. The prose hardly matches the excitement of the subject and suffers from repetition -- the give-and-take "umwelt" seemed to occur hundreds of times, although surely it occurred only in many scores of sentences. Still, I constitute the volume both interesting and informative and recommend it to anyone with an involvement in how humans categorize the natural globe. ...more

Jul 22, 2017 Beverly rated information technology really liked it

I've ever been attracted to the taxonomy of plants without knowing much nigh it. Now I know more thanks to this accessible history of taxonomy. I've been thinking virtually it from a naturalist perspective then I was surprised to discover how purely scientific taxonomy has become. This is Yoon's thesis- that the scientific approach to classification entailing numbers, microscopes, and strict criteria of evolution has become detached from our instinctive feeling for the globe around us. But it also I've always been attracted to the taxonomy of plants without knowing much nigh it. Now I know more thank you to this accessible history of taxonomy. I've been thinking most information technology from a naturalist perspective and so I was surprised to discover how purely scientific taxonomy has become. This is Yoon'southward thesis- that the scientific approach to classification entailing numbers, microscopes, and strict criteria of development has go discrete from our instinctive feeling for the world around united states of america. Merely information technology also makes sense that scientific study has moved in this direction. ...more

Aug 03, 2012 Bob Gustafson rated it information technology was amazing

I honey scientific discipline history and this fourth dimension I was in biological, rather than concrete, science. This is the story of Linneas, then everything that happened afterward him, written for intelligent people who may, or may not, be smart about in biology. What earned this book the fifth star was Yoon'southward personalized editorial at the stop, which I happen to strongly agree with. I love science history and this time I was in biological, rather than physical, science. This is the story of Linneas, and so everything that happened later on him, written for intelligent people who may, or may non, exist smart about in biology. What earned this book the fifth star was Yoon's personalized editorial at the end, which I happen to strongly agree with. ...more than

Feb 18, 2010 Chris rated it liked it

The best parts of this book were those describing the development of taxonomy and nomenclature. Notwithstanding, I don't purchase into Yoon's statement concerning the role of modernistic systematics in the death of what she terms the "umwelt" - the ability of humans to perceive the natural earth. The best parts of this book were those describing the development of taxonomy and classification. Withal, I don't buy into Yoon's argument concerning the part of modernistic systematics in the decease of what she terms the "umwelt" - the ability of humans to perceive the natural world. ...more

Overall, learning about the history of taxonomy was interesting, but I can see why other reviewers got put out by Yoon'southward need to include and repetitively debate her own idea of 'umwelt' and her seemingly obsessive compulsion of inserting the discussion into the text. Overall, learning about the history of taxonomy was interesting, but I can see why other reviewers got put out by Yoon's need to include and repetitively argue her own idea of 'umwelt' and her seemingly obsessive compulsion of inserting the word into the text. ...more than

I concluded up really liking this book a lot. I was afraid the author was going to get a trivial too preachy on the demand for us to reconnect with the natural world in this solar day and age - but it wasn't too much. I really similar the idea of the human being umwelt (world view) and I agreed with the author that at that place was room for both our view of the world (with fish) and the current taxonomies that have meant at that place is no fish category. The fish is expressionless. Long live the fish.

Overview of what I learned from this boo

I ended up really liking this volume a lot. I was afraid the writer was going to go a little too preachy on the demand for us to reconnect with the natural world in this 24-hour interval and age - simply it wasn't too much. I really similar the idea of the human umwelt (earth view) and I agreed with the author that at that place was room for both our view of the world (with fish) and the electric current taxonomies that have meant in that location is no fish category. The fish is dead. Long live the fish.

Overview of what I learned from this volume
Basically, the thought is that humans accept a basic way of looking at the world - our umwelt - that organizes, categorizes, and names the natural world. Linneaus was very good at agreement this and initial natural taxonomies were based on this. Later on taxonomists nonetheless attempted to create taxonomies based on development, statistics, molecular similarities, and eventually Deoxyribonucleic acid to discover how related nature is to itself. Which moved our understanding of the world abroad from our umwelt making it more than the realm of scientists than united states of america. From this, we learned there is no category of "fish" and that a lungfish is more related to a cow than a salmon and that fungus is closer to mammals than plants. Things that fly in the face up of "sense." Simply information technology allows us to empathise the evolutionary similarities and relationships betwixt things. Information technology'southward not wrong. Just also it'southward non incorrect that at that place is a category chosen fish.

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I read this book because Why Fish Don't Exist, one of my favorite books of 2021, cited it as an of import source. It was interesting but mostly just okay. I feel like Yoon'southward insistence on the umwelt got heavy-handed and repetitive throughout the book. She also applied it to race towards the finish which is extremely ahistorical and annoying, though I suppose dorsum in 2009 the historical construction of race was not as widely known (in some circles) as it is now. I don't recollect it makes sense to blame I read this volume because Why Fish Don't Exist, one of my favorite books of 2021, cited it as an of import source. It was interesting just mostly just okay. I experience similar Yoon's insistence on the umwelt got heavy-handed and repetitive throughout the book. She also applied it to race towards the end which is extremely ahistorical and annoying, though I suppose back in 2009 the historical construction of race was not equally widely known (in some circles) every bit it is now. I don't think information technology makes sense to blame our disconnection from the living world on taxonomy becoming more rational and scientific (thus losing the umvelt) - we didn't lose our umvelt considering science became more rational, but considering we no longer directly engage with the natural earth for survival (though our survival still depends on it).

What did I have from this book? In that location'south a portion of the encephalon used to order living things that is carve up from that which orders inanimate things (which nosotros know from patients with localized brain harm). Supposedly brands/logos have replaced living things in our umwelt and I'd be interested to see if those same patients would struggle with logos or non.

The ending anecdote about the orca was lovely. I too used to feel that disconnection from nature when I was right in it, and she's right, it's never too late to make it touch with your umwelt.

The history of taxonomy was interesting to read nearly simply probably not something I'll deport with me.

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Dec 02, 2021 Hal Morgan rated information technology information technology was amazing

I loved this book. I'm fascinated past the history of scientific discipline, and especially by the voyages of discovery and the naturalists who collected and categorized new worlds of flora and creature. Yoon shows how the Linnaean nomenclature was a brilliant solution to the problem of information overload--a mode to bring order to and make sense of the alluvion of new specimens arriving for naturalists in northern cities to study. Simply she also shows how the theory of evolution threw a monkey wrench in the whole id I loved this book. I'one thousand fascinated past the history of science, and especially by the voyages of discovery and the naturalists who collected and categorized new worlds of flora and creature. Yoon shows how the Linnaean classification was a brilliant solution to the trouble of data overload--a manner to bring club to and brand sense of the flood of new specimens arriving for naturalists in northern cities to report. But she also shows how the theory of evolution threw a monkey wrench in the whole idea of classification past making the concept of a species a moving target. Efforts by scientists to align natural classification with evolution accept us to what seem to exist illogical outcomes--that there are no such matter as fish, for example.

Yoon looks at how other cultures, especially archaic cultures, allocate nature; at what happens to people with brain injuries who lose the power to allocate nature; and how deference to scientists tin lead to a disconnection with nature. Her recommendation is to notice and capeesh nature in all its diversity and call what yous observe whatever yous like. A satisfying arroyo.

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Feb 09, 2018 Colleen rated information technology it was amazing

loved this book. I've read several books on the history of taxonomy that had a lot more infomration, simply this one had a thoroughly different arroyo. It probably resonated with me considering 30 years agone when I was in higher, I learned some traditional taxonomy and so, a few twelvemonth dorsum , in taking some biology classes to get certified for wildlife rehab, I was introduced to the new cladistics. I wondered if I was simply too old to conform my thinking, and this book makes me feel better , since information technology f loved this book. I've read several books on the history of taxonomy that had a lot more than infomration, but this one had a thoroughly different arroyo. It probably resonated with me because thirty years ago when I was in college, I learned some traditional taxonomy and then, a few year dorsum , in taking some biology classes to get certified for wildlife rehab, I was introduced to the new cladistics. I wondered if I was simply likewise quondam to adjust my thinking, and this volume makes me experience better , since information technology faults my umwelt, or human manner of looking at things.I peculiarly enjoyed the affiliate on a particular type of brain damage that only effects the ability to name living things. The studies nearly language and "folk " taxonomies were likewise fascinating. ...more than

April 14, 2018 Tigris rated it information technology was ok

The parts about taxonomic history were really nice. Notwithstanding, when she finishes summarizing the history of taxonomy, the author uses the volume equally a soapbox and goes on a multi-affiliate bluster about how much she hates cladistics and how the fact that some brain-damaged people can't identify animals and an 'experiment' she conducted with a sample size of ii people evidently proves that we should go back to classifying whales with fish and birds with mammals. The fact that she has something personal a The parts virtually taxonomic history were actually prissy. However, when she finishes summarizing the history of taxonomy, the author uses the book as a discourse and goes on a multi-affiliate rant about how much she hates cladistics and how the fact that some brain-damaged people tin can't identify animals and an 'experiment' she conducted with a sample size of 2 people apparently proves that we should go back to classifying whales with fish and birds with mammals. The fact that she has something personal against cladists and cladistics is extremely obvious. ...more

I of the best I have read his twelvemonth

This book was well researched. At outset I thought it would be dry and hard to proceed merely the writer manages to give the unscientific reader a style to understand and enjoy the material being presented. The presentation of the history of taxonomy and scientific world of natural history could be quite boring merely Carol Kaesuk Yoon'south tongue in cheek remarks made the reading quite enjoyable. May we all find our umwelt in the natural world around u.s.a.

One of the best I take read his yr

This book was well researched. At first I idea it would be dry out and difficult to continue but the author manages to give the unscientific reader a way to empathize and enjoy the material existence presented. The presentation of the history of taxonomy and scientific world of natural history could be quite ho-hum simply Carol Kaesuk Yoon's tongue in cheek remarks made the reading quite enjoyable. May we all find our umwelt in the natural earth effectually united states of america

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January 31, 2019 Kimberly Rosas rated information technology actually liked it

Found this book at a thrift shop and enjoyed the embrace art, so felt the subject was interesting enough to take a gamble on for the price. Very out of my reading wheelhouse simply the writer was able to convey very complicated themes to a non-scientist reader. The outset half of the book went quickly and I couldn't put it down, I especially enjoyed the reader tests included. The latter one-half was not quite as folio turning simply the whole concept was fascinating. Constitute this book at a thrift shop and enjoyed the comprehend fine art, then felt the subject field was interesting enough to take a chance on for the toll. Very out of my reading wheelhouse but the author was able to convey very complicated themes to a non-scientist reader. The offset half of the book went quickly and I couldn't put it downwardly, I particularly enjoyed the reader tests included. The latter half was non quite as folio turning but the whole concept was fascinating. ...more

February 09, 2022 Faithe rated it liked information technology

I came to this via the recommendation of Lulu Miller in her splendid 2020 book Why Fish Don't Exist…I liked the information on the history of taxonomy, but felt like this writer was fixated on the concept of umwelt. (Like, literally, cease saying that give-and-take!) I usually bask science and nature books, but this 1 was a bit dumbo and long for me. I feel like she could have conveyed her ideas more concisely.

If Naming Nature is well-nigh the history of how different tribes and cultures name their surrounding, it would have been more interesting. I would totally read (even if fictional) a book about the fight among numerical, molecular and cladistic taxonomists.

Instead, it focuses on (and trying to preserve) the human umwelt (half dozen sense) on ordering the living things effectually them.

As an introduction to the science of taxonomy, and a deep and fascinating delve into its history, this book was excellent. That said, I don't think that Yoon successfully defends her cardinal thesis, and in that location are times that my frustration with the arguments made were stiff enough that I had to put the book downwardly and walk away. Every bit an introduction to the science of taxonomy, and a deep and fascinating delve into its history, this volume was excellent. That said, I don't think that Yoon successfully defends her fundamental thesis, and at that place are times that my frustration with the arguments made were strong enough that I had to put the volume down and walk away. ...more

Jun xv, 2018 Dave rated information technology it was ok

It's an interesting history of the the piece of work and "science" of taxonomy, and the major players who pushed information technology forward. Unfortunately, the majority of the book is colored with rigorously unscientific personal speculation and a sustained abuse of the concept of "umwelt." Frustrating. It's an interesting history of the the work and "science" of taxonomy, and the major players who pushed it forward. Unfortunately, the majority of the book is colored with rigorously unscientific personal speculation and a sustained abuse of the concept of "umwelt." Frustrating. ...more

Oct 20, 2019 Curtis Nelson rated it it was astonishing

Who knew the battles inside taxonomy could exist and so intriguing?!? Yoon'south personal and professional conflict nearly how nature is categorized, labelled, and (at present) largely ignored by nearly people and the terrible price nosotros all pay for ceding the natural globe to the experts is one of my favorites. Who knew the battles inside taxonomy could be so intriguing?!? Yoon's personal and professional person disharmonize about how nature is categorized, labelled, and (now) largely ignored by most people and the terrible cost nosotros all pay for ceding the natural globe to the experts is i of my favorites. ...more than

Jan 20, 2021 Susan rated it really liked it

Who would think a book nearly taxonomy would be a page-turner! Carol Kaesuk Yoon has written a thoroughly engaging explanation of the inner dramas of taxonomy and information technology's importance to the quality of our lives. Who would think a book about taxonomy would be a page-turner! Ballad Kaesuk Yoon has written a thoroughly engaging explanation of the inner dramas of taxonomy and it's importance to the quality of our lives. ...more than

Feb 03, 2021 Chika Kobari rated it it was amazing

I institute this book admittedly engaging and so beautiful and thoughtful. I read (honestly) once in a blue moon and take a tough time getting myself focused to get through most books.
I immediately fell in dear with it. Total of wonder and data.
Highly recommend it.

Jan 12, 2022 KelliBrommel rated information technology information technology was amazing

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I learned and then much! Written in an engaging way, the writer brings non-scientific folks into the ongoing discussion about how homo beings allocate the world.

February 21, 2022 Hansol Kim rated information technology actually liked it

It was a good volume full of interesting knowledge that I wouldn't take found elsewhere and I do have a dissimilar thought of instinct and scientific discipline later on reading it. Withal, I wasn't as engaged as I hoped and I more or less worked through information technology. It was a good book full of interesting cognition that I wouldn't have plant elsewhere and I do have a different thought of instinct and science afterward reading it. However, I wasn't as engaged as I hoped and I more or less worked through information technology. ...more

Probably a self selecting title - you'll know if you desire to read information technology. Didn't dearest the last chapter, simply the history of taxonomy is fascinating. Probably a self selecting title - you'll know if you desire to read it. Didn't dear the terminal chapter, but the history of taxonomy is fascinating. ...more

Carol Kaesuk Yoon was born and raised in Massachusetts, spending much of her childhood roaming around in the woods backside her business firm, that or reading comic books. At Yale she studied biology then went on to become a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell, where she did research on the evolution and genetics of fruitfly mating songs.

After grad school, instead of getting a normal mail service-

Carol Kaesuk Yoon was born and raised in Massachusetts, spending much of her childhood roaming around in the forest behind her house, that or reading comic books. At Yale she studied biology so went on to get a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell, where she did research on the development and genetics of fruitfly mating songs.

After grad school, instead of getting a normal postal service-doctoral position, she became a fellow with a program that takes disgruntled scientific discipline graduate students and plops them down into news outlets to try out beingness journalists. She was sent to The Oregonian, Portland'south daily paper where, to her amazement, since the only news she regularly read was the arts section, she roughshod in love with science news writing.

The following winter, she started writing for The New York Times as a news clerk in the scientific discipline section until she left to become a regular and frequent contributor from afar here and distant at that place, lovely and interesting work where she was able to recollect and write nigh science for the Times, exist edited past and interact with some really smart and cool people, and alive wherever life took her.

And so in 2009, a longstanding fascination she had with taxonomy - which everyone thinks is dull and fusty, merely is actually a bizarre and ancient practice that reveals cardinal truths about what it is to exist man - led to the publication of her volume Naming Nature.

She has lived for almost 2 decades in Bellingham, Washington with her husband, Merrill Peterson, a biologist at Western Washington University, and their son. Their daughter has fledged and makes art. She writes, plays with the family's hypo-allergenic cat and reads. She also likes to go outside to look for animals, and she also spend a off-white amount of time messing with her typewriter collection.

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