Draft articles for critical review
This page presents draft articles and reports by members seeking ‘good-faith’ comments from the public and the scholarly community, with the intent of improving the paper before submitting to formal peer review.
Please note: These papers have not been endorsed by the Society. All communications should be directed to the author.
The deadlines indicated are nominal. These drafts may remain online after the deadline, to stimulate dialogue.
Gravestones
“Australia has a long and inglorious record of establishment by governments of valuable, valued and successful science-based initiatives … that address issues of major continuing importance, only to later abolish them. The results are loss of focus, loss of group knowledge, loss of expertise, loss of analytical capability, wasted effort and resources, wasted expenditure and – most of all – wasted opportunity.”
So commences a paper by Society member David Marlow entitled Creating and then abolishing bodies of scientific knowledge, expertise and analytical capability: An Australian political malaise . Mr Marlow published this article in Proceedings Volume 124 available online on this website. He invited critical comment from scientists, public servants and others who have personal knowledge of these organisations. He sought insights of the birth, achievements and political execution of any of the initiatives listed in ‘Gravestones’. See separate page for details. He passed away in February 2015, but the invitation remains. Please send contributions to policy AT SYMBOL royalsocietyqld.org.au.
The Historical Sciences and Retrodiction
Aerospace engineer and member Phil Andrews, in a new curiosity-led investigation, has questioned whether the Historical Sciences are presented appropriately, especially in University Philosophy of Science courses and the associated textbooks, both of which are effectively silent on the topic.
This cause has been developed further at Phil Andrews’ website, https://pre-historic.com. In particular he is calling for interest in forming The International Society for the Historical Sciences. There is also an important survey that members are welcome to fill out.
Any person who would like to contribute to Phil Andrews’ exploration of this field is invited to contact him directly on <philandrews04 AT SYMBOL gmail.com>, or philandrews AT SYMBOL pre-historic.com.
Essentialistic Pluralism in Species Conception: Stephen Maxwell
Essentialistic Pluralism in Species Conception
Keywords: Essentialism, evolution, taxonomy, species
Essentialistic pluralism allows the taxonomist the freedom to delineate species outside of any rigid conceptual framework. An overview of a select number of current species concepts is provided, offering these as potential choices to the pluralist. Member Stephen Maxwell has published an article in Proceedings Volume 124 available online on this website and invites taxonomists, philosophers and other scholars to respond to his propositions. Contact him via <stephen.maxwell AT SYMBOL my.jcu.edu.au>.