10th Symposium: Are Species Real?

The essence of species remains a contentious subject in both biology and philosophy. Biologists hold differing definitions of the term "species," while philosophers debate its ontological status. However, a precise understanding of species is crucial for ecological (archaeological) surveys, environmental conservation, evolutionary biology, and more. Species stand as pivotal units in biological taxonomy. As Darwin mentioned in 'On the Origin of Species': " No one definition has satisfied all naturalists; yet every naturalist knows vaguely what he means when he speaks of a species. " Despite these challenges, throughout the history of human thought, we've persistently classified organisms, from Aristotle's differentiation between plants and animals to modern scientific nomenclature. The modern classification system revolves around units termed "species," which then aggregate to form larger units like Genus, Family, Order, interconnected through life's nested hierarchical structure. But what constitutes a species? Why should a specific group of organisms be considered a unit and given a unique name?

In the 10th symposium "Are Species Real?", Jing Liang, Guangji Chen, and  Long Zhou will delve into whether a species is a "genuinely existing biological entity" or an "unexceptional biological entity." They'll introduce the evolution of the concept of species, present emerging related perspectives, and engage in discussions.