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=C2=A0Thanks David W. . I concur with your views.=C2=A0
Given the fairly common use of =C2=A0the term natural history, it seems odd=
that formal definitions of NH are hard to find. =C2=A0For example, =C2=A0n=
either =C2=A0my Collins Dictionary of Botany nor my Oxford Dictionary of Ec=
ology provide a definition. My Oxford English Reference Dictionary describe=
s NH as 1. the study of animals or plants, esp. as set forth for popular us=
e. 2. an aggregate of the facts concerning the flora and fauna etc. of a pa=
rticular place or class (a natural history of the Isle of Wright).=C2=A0
I do think that both "observation" and "explanation" should be a part of an=
y definition and thus I doubt that anyone will ever supplant Charles Darwin=
as the pre-eminent naturalist of all time - so your deference to=C2=A018th=
and 19th Century science is well placed! =C2=A0 From more recent times, I =
would rank E.O. Wilson at the top.
However NH is defined, I have a long way to go to be as conversant in the s=
ubject as many who post on NatureNS, including yourself.
- David P
From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 9:05 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] Natural History
=20
Hi Dave P. & All,=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Aug 24, 2015
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 I enjoyed your article in today's paper
http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/1306838-nova-scotia-naturally-a=
-love-of-the-natural-world
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 I wondered about your definition of Natural History but find =
that it is=20
not seriously different from the one in my 1914 Webster's dictionary.=20
"Formerly, the study, description and classification of animals, plants,=20
minerals and other natural objects, thus including the modern sciences of=
=20
zoology, botany, mineralogy, etc., in so far as they existed at that time.=
=20
Now commonly restricted to a study of these subjects in a more or less=20
superficial way... and usually further restricted to the study of animals=
=20
and plants, esp. the former, and their habits."
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 I would be inclined to be more inclusive and disinclined to f=
ormulate a=20
rigid definition of Natural History because I think it should ideally=20
include all ground truth and this is still possible only to a limited=20
degree.
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 For example, if animals are arbitrarily taken as the focus of=
Natural=20
History then clearly this should include some comprehension of climatic=20
effects past and present, vegetative cover past and present and since=20
vegetative cover is a function of soil parent material, climatic history,=
=20
time, phytogeography and chance this quickly spins into a need for some=20
level of comprehension of all scientific and technical knowledge which at=
=20
the very least would include elementary physics, inorganic chemistry,=20
physical chemistry, thermodynamic phase diagrams, intermolecular forces...
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 But why would one want to take animals as the sole focus of N=
atural=20
History ? Surely it should include all life forms, including the origin of=
=20
life, all aspects of Astronomy including the origin of stars, planets,=20
matter..., all aspects of Physics and (gasp) even all aspects of man-made=
=20
materials and devices.
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 In practice many, including myself, are still trying to grasp=
key=20
findings of 18th and 19th Century science so I expect the day when the=20
typical student of Natural History really understands=C2=A0 the background =
of the=20
observed will be sometime after that elusive pot of Gold at the end of the=
=20
rainbow is located.
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville
=20
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<html><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:He=
lveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;fo=
nt-size:13px"><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4139"><span></span></di=
v><div></div><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4140"> </div><div c=
lass=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141">Thanks David W. .=
I concur with your views. </div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_=
16_0_1_1440462597358_4141"><br></div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_1=
6_0_1_1440462597358_4141">Given the fairly common use of the term nat=
ural history, it seems odd that formal definitions of NH are hard to find. =
For example, neither my Collins Dictionary of Botany nor =
my Oxford Dictionary of Ecology provide a definition. My Oxford English Ref=
erence Dictionary describes NH as 1. the study of animals or plants, esp. a=
s set forth for popular use. 2. an aggregate of the facts concerning the fl=
ora and fauna etc. of a particular place or class (<i id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_14=
40462597358_4696">a natural history of the Isle of Wright</i>). </div>=
<div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141"><br></div><=
div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141" dir=3D"ltr">=
I do think that both "observation" and "explanation" should be a part of an=
y definition and thus I doubt that anyone will ever supplant Charles Darwin=
as the pre-eminent naturalist of all time - so your deference to <spa=
n class=3D"" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4866"><font size=3D"2" id=3D"=
yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4958">18th and 19th Century science is well plac=
ed! From more recent times, I would rank E.O. Wilson at the top.</fo=
nt></span></div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4=
141"><br></div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_41=
41" dir=3D"ltr">However NH is defined, I have a long way to go to be as con=
versant in the subject as many who post on NatureNS, including yourself.</d=
iv><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141" dir=3D"l=
tr"><br></div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_414=
1" dir=3D"ltr">- David P</div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1=
440462597358_4141" dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div class=3D"signature" id=3D"yui=
_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141" dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><div class=3D"signature=
" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141"><br></div><div class=3D"signature"=
id=3D"yui_3_16_0_1_1440462597358_4141"><br></div><br> <div style=3D"font-=
family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, He