Cladistics - the science of infinite recursion

An infinite recursion (also known as an infinite loop, endless loop or unproductive loop) is a sequence of operations which loops endlessly, either due to the loop having no terminating condition, having one that can never be met, or having one that causes the loop to start over.

One example of an infinite recursion is the notion that commonly is called "the tree of life". This infinite recursion is of the kind that have a terminating condition that can never be met. The problem with the notion is thus not whether it is true or not, but that it lacks a consistent solution. This statement points at two different issues to be addressed:

1. the question whether a statement about history can be true at all, and

2. why the notion lacks a consistent solution.

These two issues do, however, meet in that the answer to the former explains the latter. The fundamental problem is that a statement about history can't be true at all, since all statements about history requires an aspect, and that there is no aspect of aspects. This lack of an aspect of aspects does, in turn, explain why there isn't any consistent solution of the notion: there simply isn't any aspect of aspects. It means that we can search forever for an aspect of aspects, because the only thing we will find are different aspects which all are inconsistent.

The approach in biological systematics called "cladistics" has, however, turned this fact up-side-down by instead claiming that there indeed is an aspect of aspects that we can find, ie, the notion of a "the tree of life", which, thus, actually is an infinite recursion. This claim cannot, of course, change the fact that the notion is an infinite recursion, but only our understanding of that we can't find an infinite recursion into a belief that we can find an infinite recursion. It cannot change the fact that the notion is an infinite recursion, but only distort our heads into believing that we can find an infinite recursion.

In the course that this approach (cladistics) has gained more influence and power in biological systematics, it has excluded biological systematists that understand the issue from positions in the academy in favor for cladists, and has thereby kidnapped biological systematics. Today, cladists not only claim that an infinite recursion like the notion of a "tree of life" can be found, but also that biological systematics equals cladistics. It aims at eradicating everything except its inconsistent belief in biological systematics.

Cladistics has thus turned facts into fiction and fiction into facts, thereby giving the impression that an infinite recursion, ie, the notion of a "tree of life", can be found, when the truth is that a search for it is endless per definition. This has helped cladists to academic careers (see for example Steve Farris, Kåre Bremer and Per Sundberg), for which the judgement remains. It seems suspiciously like fraud. We at least ought to ask them if they indeed think that a "tree of life" can be found. If they answer yes, then they are definitely wrong, but to be be held responsible for their actions, we have to prove that they understand that they are wrong, which is more difficult. However, they ought at least be detached from their positions.