Abstract

The need for an explicitly stated normative basis for research in systematic biology is introduced and discussed. The nature of science, including systematics, as both objective and subjective is demonstrated, the particular tasks of systematic biologists are introduced, and the wide variety of motivations for work in systematic biology is considered. These topics provide background for the development of a new normative basis for systematics. The deep ecology movement provides a framework within which such a normative basis can be developed and provides a way in which such a framework can be as inclusive as possible of scientists who derive their own ethics from a wide variety of sources. Most critical is the emphasis on the value of natural diversity and the inherent value of the natural world. After deep ecology is introduced a new statement of its platform principles is presented. The nature of ethics is also discussed, after which a chapter is devoted to stating and discussing several guiding questions and norms for a new systematics, which is here termed green systematics. The work concludes with a discussion of how green systematics can lead to creative approaches in two areas; sustainable agriculture and bioregional systematics