解消「物種問題」：一個反實在論的零售論證

Dissolving the Species Problem: A Retail Argument for Anti-Realism

本文主張物種分類群並非是一個獨立於人心的實在之物，理由為：物種分類群是不可觀察物，其做為一整體無法操作，且對其指認需仰賴未來事件。而以科學實在論的形上學架構來看待物種分類群，會把物種問題帶向死胡同。本文主張以反實在論的觀點來看待物種分類群，如此，物種的多元定義便成為了一個待說明的現象，而不是一個待解決的問題。因此，我們可以有好的理由主張，「物種問題」需要的並不是解決，而是解消。

This paper argues that species taxa are neither real, nor mind-independent entities, as they are unobservable, not manipulable as a whole, and path-dependent. The species problem leads to a cul-de-sac if investigated with a scientific realist framework. An anti-realist explanation for species taxa will provide a more feasible approach. Following this line of reasoning, the plethora of species concepts displays not a problem to solve but a phenomenon in need of explanation. Therefore, what the species problem needs is not a solution, but dissolution.