Linnaeus, Carl
Published: October 30, 2006, 7:00 pm
Updated: October 30, 2006, 7:00 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Peter Saundry
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), a Swedish physician and botanist whose system for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms, developed in the 18th century, is still widely used today. In Systema naturae (1735), Linnaeus approached the problem of classifying species empirically. Beginning not as most of his predecessors did with large classes, but with the individual species themselves, which he then arranged according to their similarities, he worked up from species to kingdom. Linnaeus established the modern binomial system of nomenclature (genus name plus species name) for plants and animals. A tenth edition of System naturae (1758) included a classification of over four thousand species of animals, including human beings, which Linnaeus designated as Homo sapiens. Linnaeus’ ideas on classification have influenced generations of biologists during and after his lifetime, even those opposed to the philosophical and theological roots of his work.
Carl Linnaeus was also known as Carl von Linné or Carolus Linnaeus.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Linnaeus, Carl". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 30, 2006; Last revised Date October 30, 2006; Retrieved May 23, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Linnaeus,_Carl>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), a Swedish physician and botanist whose system for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms, developed in the 18th century, is still widely used today. In Systema naturae (1735), Linnaeus approached the problem of classifying species empirically. Beginning not as most of his predecessors did with large classes, but with the individual species themselves, which he then arranged according to their similarities, he worked up from species to kingdom. Linnaeus established the modern binomial system of nomenclature (genus name plus species name) for plants and animals. A tenth edition of System naturae (1758) included a classification of over four thousand species of animals, including human beings, which Linnaeus designated as Homo sapiens. Linnaeus’ ideas on classification have influenced generations of biologists during and after his lifetime, even those opposed to the philosophical and theological roots of his work.
Carl Linnaeus was also known as Carl von Linné or Carolus Linnaeus.
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