#4 is something that cannot be objectively determined, because synonymy is almost invariably subjective.

I would observe that, for zoological names, of the following list:

at least 1 and 5 are questions for which an objective and definitive answer (via application of the ICZN for #1) can be arrived at, and that the answer will not change. Thus, these are things which could be made part of a permanent public archive (hopefully, something like ZooBank).

#2 and 3 are things that can, in essence, be objectively determined under the Code, but are subject to the nuance of "prevailing usage" - that is, a sudden change in how taxonomists treat a name can shift the answer from "no" to "yes" (in both cases) or from "yes" to "no" (for #2). One hope that I have is that a mechanism for Registration can be implemented in the future which will prevent such fluctuation, and thus make the answers to 2 and 3 immutable, as well.

#4 is something that cannot be objectively determined, because synonymy is almost invariably subjective.

Realistically, then, this list represents a mixed bag of the immediately attainable, the potentially attainable, and the unattainable. It might be more productive to focus on the former categories, in terms of a community-wide goal. I'll further note that if taxonomists want a system of Registration that will result in permanently stable names, then they are probably going to have to insist upon it, *and* be willing to participate in the process (because such a process is likely to require public review). I'm not 100% sure whether botanical names would work exactly the same way, but I expect that the situation would be pretty much the same.

Peace,

--

Doug Yanega Dept. of Entomology Entomology Research Museum Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314 skype: dyanega phone: (951) 827-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's) http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82

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