Classification

Classification

The lecture started with a small "game" which consisted in classifying some objects shown in the screen. You had to divide them in a given number of groups. First we had to clasiffy them all in one group. Then we had to divide them in 3 or 4 groups, and finally each of the objects in one group, but no other object could fit in that category. This was the hardest, as most of the objects share characteristics, we tend to classify things and person in general, terms, very superficially.

This exercise was great to make me notice how we humans tend to classify everything that quickly.

As the lecture kept going, Ms. Briggs explained how classification began. It all started when Carl Linneus, the first person of the world to actually begin classifying specimens. His classifications for the creatures were: classes orders, families, genera, and species. The problems with this classification is that it was only based on the physical appearance, so now a days biologists and classifiers use DNA to be more precise when it comes to classifying.

Then we talked about how classification is interpretative and how it is almost instant, you don't even think about it sometimes.

However classification can lead to serious discrimination issues, like chauvism, sexism, racism. Classification should be moderated, as it could get you to false conclusions.