Full Idea
The four main concepts of a species are 'phenetic' (similarity of traits), 'biological species' (interbreeding and isolated), 'ecological niche' (occupying an adaptive zone), or 'phylogenetic-cladistic' (start and finish at splits in lineage)
Gist of Idea
Species are phenetic, biological, niche, or phylogenetic-cladistic
Source
report of Michael Devitt (Resurrecting Biological Essentialism [2008], 4) by PG - Db (ideas)
Book Reference
Devitt,Michael: 'Putting Metaphysics First' [OUP 2010], p.223
A Reaction
[my summary of Devitt's list] Devitt attacks the whole lot, in favour of essentialism - the species being fixed by its underlying explanatory mechanisms.
Related Idea
Idea 17381 Phylogenetics involves history, and cladism rests species on splits in lineage [Dupré]