The System as a Mask: Nature in the Network from Linnaeus to Genomics

This text attempts to deconstruct the historical debate between rigid taxonomy and the dynamic network model of biology. The authors argue that while modern science has retained Linnaean nomenclature, it has fundamentally changed our understanding of the structure of life. The analysis spans the evolution from Enlightenment attempts to catalog nature to advanced phylogenetic tools and genomics. The article also addresses political issues, pointing to the dangers of essentializing biological classification and its historical use as a tool of domination. This is a profound study of how cognitive infrastructure shapes our understanding of reality, simultaneously challenging the objectivity of ancient classification systems in the face of contemporary scientific discoveries.