February 15, 2007

Carl Linnaeus is 300. 2007 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Carl Linnaeus, aka Carl von Linné, the father of modern plant and animal classification, who provided a survey of over 7,000 species of plants and 4,000 species of animals, which works helped to establish and standardize the consistent binomial nomenclature for species.

He proposed the horologium florae, the clock of flowers that indicates the hour by the opening of different species' petals. His garden grows in Uppsala. He gave humankind its name. Rousseau said of him: "I know no greater man on earth". Celebrations will no doubt be organised held such august institutions as the Swedish and London Linnaeus Societies and the Embassies of Sweden throughout the real and virtual worlds.

posted by the quidnunc kid 17 years ago
  • I thought he died?
  • Postus Bananameritus. You could almost say the Systema Naturae was the start of proper biology, I think. In most other fields there were a least a few things we inherited from the ancients, but ancient biology was really not worth reading, and a more or less complete new start was needed.
  • This wasn't funny. On the other hand, I have been to his garden in September. Not a lot grows in Uppsala in September.
  • He doesn't look a day over 297.
  • I like that he went to the University of Harder wijk. Where should we be if he'd gone to the University of Slakkenaf?
  • Ah, and he was a preacher's kid, too. Take THAT, Religion-and-science-don't-mix types!
  • Linnaeus was also the one who took the upside-down temperature scale of Anders Celsius, another Swede, and reversed it so that 0 is the melting point of ice and 100 the boiling point of water in standard atmospheric pressure.
  • > the horologium florae Now there's a geeky gardening project that warrants pursuing.
  • Yeah, but what has he done lately? j/k nice post
  • *looks at geranium and venus fly trap in room* *sighs*
  • Good Birthdaeus to Linnaeus, He proposed the clock floraeus. A mechanism that leaves us Wilted flowers on a dais.
  • Well, it ain't a perfect system, but it's pretty dang good for a 300-year-old dead guy. What a cool idea for a garden. *wonders if it can be done in weeds
  • Ol' Karolus didn't just classify critters and fritters, either. With Sauvages, he pioneered the field of nosology [pdf], the classification of medical disorders. His breakdown of mental disorders is particularly interesting.
  • Barring tautology, in demonology, 'Lectro-biology, mystic nosology, Spirit philology, high-class astrology, Such is his knowledge, he isn't the man To require an apology!
  • Also pioneered: (from wiki article) "...the defining [of] the concept of "race" as applied to humans. Within Homo sapiens he proposed four taxa of a lower (unnamed) rank. These categories are, Americanus, Asiaticus, Africanus, and Europeanus. They were based on place of origin at first, and later skin color. Each race had certain characteristics that were endemic to individuals belonging to it. Native Americans were reddish, stubborn, and angered easily. Africans were black, relaxed and negligent. Asians were sallow, avaricious, and easily distracted. Europeans were white, gentle, and inventive."
  • Wouldn't it be cool if different human races farted at different times every day? You could build a sort of Benetton Ad Clock... Now where's MY Society?
  • Ah, the horologium flatuum. How piquant.
  • *hands society to xenmate*
  • Abh yes, thank you! I forgot I let you borrow it...
  • In return for your generosity I present you with this Bollywood tribute to Linnaeus.
  • I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Bollywood scares me.
  • I swear I will never, ever again be generous towards you StoryBored. Ever.
  • Lol. C'mon, it's got all the representatives of the major animal groups. There's even a monkey in there, i'm pretty sure. And how about them rabbit heads too?
  • I've been to the Darwin Centre (the new bit of the Museum of Natural History in London); I was lucky enough to get on a behind-the-scenes tour where they take you downstairs to see the Special Things In Jars. (Ordinary Things In Jars are upstairs.) Some of the jars had red paint on them. Our guide explained that these were the Extra Special Things In Jars, specimens by which the species had been identified. These jars had been taken to a cave in Wales during World War II for safekeeping. The red paint helped the people who moved them identify which jars to take. Several of the Things In Jars were collected by Linnaeus and were labelled in his handwriting. There were also a few jars collected by Darwin. It was altogether pretty mindblowing.
  • MonkeyFilter: C'mon, it's got all the representatives of the major animal groups. There's even a monkey in there, i'm pretty sure. StoryBored, I lobe you!
  • *high fives Granma*
  • Couple of pieces on Linnaeus in March's Atlanticincluding a narrated photo essay here