Q1. What is Aristotle's main innovation/contribution to the classification of organisms? That is, what did he do differently from his predecessors? Why does Artistotle's or Pliny's natural histories included things like "wonder people" and dragons? What is the explanation for their having been recognized equally with various kinds of fish, deer, and other well-known animals?
A1. Aristotle classified living creatures into two main categories, blood-bearing animals and bloodless animals. These divisions were further divided into five categories each. The blood-bearing category was subdivided into, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, whales, and fish. The bloodless category was subdivided into cephalopods, weak-shelled animals, insects, hard-shelled animals, and plant animals.
During the lives of both Aristotle and Pliny the elder, the classification of the natural world was still very new, and based largely on second (third, fourth hand knowledge). Neither Aristotle or Pliny were able to travel much further than their own turf, so the animals for instance, in India and Africa were often exagerated. Because so many of the animals were not experienced first hand by the scholars themselves the more unbelievable mythical creatures that we know today, unicorn, sphinx, and mermaids were named in the same way that cats, and dogs, and strange reptiles were. For a world that had never known the likes of an elephant or a giraffe, the discovery and wonder of the natural world took precedence over the need for proof and explanation.
Q2.Why was there a new urgency to classify the diversity of life in the 1700's (Linnaeus' time) than there was for ancient Greeks like Aristotle and Pliny? What fundamentally had changed in Europe by the time Linnaeus was observing the variety of living things. Why was Linnaeus called the "Little Oracle"?
A2. By the time Linnaeus was born, it was common for regular people to have their own collections of natural artifacts, live and preserved plants, insects, stuffed animal, things in jars. With such large collections it is no wonder that people would seek ways to organize and label their collections.
While many people before Linnaeus had tried to classify and order the natural world, Linnaeus need for extreme order and precision helped him to create a universal system. Even beyond his knack for ordering, Linnaeus had extremely acute senses that enabled him to navigate and perceive the world in ways that know one before him could. This talent, this sensitivity, which is claimed as the will of god, led to him be called the "Little Oracle".
Q3. Which definitions of "natural history" from the Natural Histories Project were most interesting to you and why? How do any of them speak to you personally? Relate interestingly to each other? Relate to zoos and the notions of natural history that came up in the week's readings?
A3. My favorite definitions for natural history was Harry Greene's. Greene discusses his grad students nicknames for accumulating date. His class created a sort of contemporary classification system named after two contributors to natural history. A joe is what the students call their first contribution, a cell phone picture, a first bit of collected data. Once they collect more information the Joe is upgraded to an Annie. I am interested in creative ways of accumulating data, and categorizing and naming it. Data is everywhere and far exceeds the boundaries of the science. To use scientific methods, for instance, in artistic endeavors is something I strive for in my own work. Also, more literal interpretations, more quantifiable artistic endeavors might be more accessible to artists and non-artists alike.
Q4. Pick out one quote from Annie Dillard's essay on Seeing that stood out to you and discuss it further. What is significant about it and why? If it connects to any of the other readings or the Observation 1 exercise to you, mention how.
In general I found the Annie Dillard reading to be a little self-indulgent and flowery for my taste. Luckily, the few things that I did like about it, came right in the beginning of the text. Dillard quotes, Steward Edward White, from his chapter titled, The Mountains, "As soon as you can forget the naturally obvious and construct an artificial obvious, then you too will see deer." A bit later, Dillard goes on further saying, "The point is that I just don't know what the lover knows; I just can't see the artificial obvious that those in the know construct. " I found this notion of natural and artificial sight to be a curious one. I'm not even sure if I agree that our natural way is to 'not see'. Surely as children, we are more apt to see things and experience things more fully than when we are old. I can't help but think that we are born with the ability to SEE but that years of artificial seeing has made it more difficult.
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