Willys and squirrels
Trying the proposed system of classifying critters by purpose. For clarity, try using it on non-living items....

Willys provides three nicely contrasting examples. As of 1952, Willys made three cars:

Jeep, needs no introduction.

Station Wagon, the first tall and practical wagon.

Aero, a compact sedan.

These three vehicles show three different paths or trajectories of purpose, measured by how people actually use and understand the vehicle.



Jeep was for off-road usage, more or less replacing the horse for farmers and prospectors and explorers. (And for non-serious versions of each occupation.)

Jeep still has exactly the same purpose now. Still going strong, still seen as a Jeep. It has competitors, but the competitors are considered to be generic jeeps.



Station Wagon was originally used in a truck-ish way, carrying people to off-road work and recreation.

Over the years it spawned many competitors, and gradually moved into more domestic usage. Now the SUV is the default family vehicle. It's seen as a car, not a truck.



Aero began as an economical compact, aimed mainly at the second-car market. It joined the competition late, and failed quickly against the already established Rambler.

Aero then moved to Brazil where it became a luxury car without changing its size or power. Willys do Brasil modified and restyled the Aero several times, becoming fancier and more limousinish each time. It sold until 1972.



In short:

Jeep created a purpose and OWNED it. Same structure, same purpose for 75 years.

Station Wagon created a purpose and kept the same physical form and size while the purpose gradually and naturally changed.

Aero joined an existing category, then moved and joined an entirely different category, where it succeeded for 20 years.

How do you handle this in a classification scheme?

= = = = =

Does this quandary transfer to Nature? Yup.

What happens when a wolf moves into human communities and becomes a dog? Like Aero moving to Brazil. Entirely different purpose, same structure.

What happens when a tree becomes the home of a squirrel? Like the Station Wagon, the tree didn't move, but its purpose is now partly different.

Conclusion: Classifying solely by purpose is the best way to understand organs and systems within a creature, but it's not a good way to classify complete creatures.

  ¶ 5:21 PM