Dear Humans,

Yesterday we classified leaves. And even though we learned three different systems of classification, we still had a little trouble figuring out exactly which group to put the leaves in. Is this leaf round, egg-shaped, heart-shaped, or oval?

Because the leaves aren’t in on the classification scheme. Humans created these groups to help us observe and analyze. Nature is oblivious and in no way tries to fit in. Some might even say that our methods of classification say a whole lot more about us than the things we’re trying to understand. 

So we see some overlap. We see some confusion. That’s what always happens when we put things in groups: some things just don’t easily fit inside the lines we’ve drawn.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt