Polytomy

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A polytomy is generally a branching into several equal terms.

In philosophy, polytomy is understood to mean a division of a scope into several parts.

In his work "Logic", Immanuel Kant referred to the empirical character of polytomy and drew attention to the difference between polytomy and dichotomy , that is, to a division into only two members. According to Kant, the content of polytomy cannot be examined in the field of logic, because it lacks knowledge of the object. In the dichotomy, the content of the term to be classified is not explored, one only needs the principle of contradiction .

biology

Cladograms : B and C each show polytomic cladograms

In biology, more precisely in phylogenetics and cladistics , one speaks of a polytomy when taxa are not specifically incorporated into a dichotomous family tree with regard to their lineage and instead several lines are combined at one point. The cause can be descendants whose occurrence is close together. Furthermore, contradictions in the reconstruction of lineages can make the creation of a polytomy necessary.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Baltisberger, Nyffeler & Widmer: Systematic Botany; indigenous fern and seed plants , vdf Hochschulverlag, 4th edition.