1 Samuel M. Scheiner and Michael R. Willig, eds. 1. A General ...

gather existing theories in a unifying superstructure. This is the approach taken in this book.
While it does not specifically address the problem of multi-individual or multi-species entities, in
principle the hierarchical structure of a unified general theory has the capability of
accommodating many well articulated lower level theories. Alternatively, a unified general
theory that does not center on one or on narrow range of organizational scales may be capable of
resolving the conflict as well. But such a theory may need another book.
In any case, it may be useful to add one more principle (to add to eight identified already
by Scheiner and Willing in Chapter 1) that reflects a generalization that all theories of ecology,
and thus the prospective general theory of ecology, deal with ecological entities. Ecological
entities appear at different levels of organization: they may be individuals, kin groups, local
populations, metapopulations, symbiotic systems, local communities or ecosystems (e.g., Wilson
1988), and many others. Scheiner and Willig are clearly aware of this when they mention
variation among individuals – a label that includes individual organisms and individual species.
However, different degrees of entitization constitute a universal feature of living nature. An
explicit recognition of it as a ninth principle might aid in advancing the general theory of
ecology.
IN A NUTSHELL
• Theory has had strong direct and indirect influence on the paradigm (mindset, culture,
standards, and directions) of ecology.
• Ecology without theory would be a science accumulating cases, without the ability to
develop and evolve, and without the ability to make sense out of the multitude of cases,
except in the light of theory of evolution.
• Even though, the systematic pursuit of theory has been modest, the successes have
largely been idiosyncratic due to individuals who addressed particular questions without
an overarching framework.
• Awareness of theory and its use appears to increase with time across the discipline, but
weaknesses persist.
• In spite of efforts to remedy the situation, ecological theory has until recently comprised
theories and models of narrow scope.
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