The Purposefulness of Classification

This article argues that all classifications serve some purposes better than others, and therefore that the idea of an all-purpose classification is untenable. This should not be confused with the view that any classification is as good as any other, either for a specific purpose or for a wider range of purposes. It follows that the aim of a theory of classification is to develop criteria for constructing a classification that best serves a particular aim, and that unclear purposes pose difficulties for this aim. The article discusses a recent paper by Claudio Gnoli that defends the view that an all-purpose classification is possible. The problem of the purpose-laden nature of classification is related to issues such as classificatory pluralism versus monism, realism versus idealism, objective versus subjective classification, and natural versus artificial classification. The article briefly connects such different dichotomies to the issue of the purpose-laden nature of classifications.