If you visit the San Diego zoo, I recommend finding Crotalus catalinensis (Cliff 1954)—popularly known as the Santa Catalina Island Rattleless Rattlesnake. This is no misnomer; these rattlesnakes have no rattles. This taxonomic placement is strongly supported and C. catalinensis is squarely in the rattlesnake clade. Taxonomically, these are rattleless rattlesnakes.

This case highlights how language, logic, metaphysics, and taxonomic practice align. Unpacking this highlights what philosophy may learn from taxonomy. It prompts us to adopt what I call the principle of ontological freedom. This principle promotes precision in place of ambiguity, and strategic ambiguity in service of precision.

Bio:
Matt Haber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Utah, with appointments in the School of Biological Sciences, the Center for Quantitative Biology, and the Department of Health, Society, and Policy. His primary research is on philosophy of phylogenetic systematics.

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