Catalog Description: An in-depth study of taxonomy, with a special focus on plants. We will first learn how plants are classified and how they fit into the tree of life, and what practical challenges exist for current practitioners of botany. Next, we will study the history of the ideas underlying classification and their connections to colonial, extractivist empire-building activities since Linnaeus. Finally, we will work to create a new taxonomy that acknowledges and imagines other relationships with plants.
Units: 4.0
Prerequisites: None
Formats:
Fall and/or Spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Grading Basis: Letter
Final Exam Status: Alternative to final exam