So, as this issue started out of the use of the iris dataset, and I took the editor remarks on their suitability appropriate, I came to the following conclusion.

Millions of R users, and countless students of statistics who do not use R are familiar with the iris dataset, which is about flowers; however, it is entirely appropriate to criticise the use of this dataset due to the fact that for many years Ronald A. Fisher, who introduced iris into statistical education, promoted his eugenic ideas through his activity as a member of the Eugenics Society and its council.

The dataset that is included in base R and used in our tutorial was created by Edgar Anderson. What cast some doubts about the ethical use of this dataset is that it was first brought into the education of statistics by Ronald A. Fisher (among many-many elements of modern statistics.) Fisher developed a linear discriminant model to distinguish the species in the dataset based on their features, which was published in the Annals of Eugenics (today the Annals of Human Genetics). The journal obtained its current name in 1954 to reflect changing perceptions on eugenics.

In their R Journal article, Allison M. Horst, Alison Presmanes Hill, and Kristen B. Gorman: Palmer Archipelago Penguins Data in the palmerpenguins R Package - An Alternative to Anderson’s Irises criticise the dataset for lacking data documentation, metadata, and various other aspects, including, in their view that the dataset "is burdened by a history in eugenics research."

Obviously, I think that it would be outrageous if we would use an eugenics example in vignettes, but I think it is mistaken to think that the the iris dataset is burdened by a history of eugenics. It is attributed to the botanist Edgar Anderson; in science, nobody is liable if their work is quoted by bad science or by racists. In science, we must quote sources, and the fact that problematic sources refer to a datasets do not cast a shadow on the original work. Furthermore, the work that brought the iris dataset into the education of statistics also does not seem to be associated with eugenics. It is about a linear discriminant model that is widely taught without any reference to eugenics.

Walter Bodmer, R. A. Bailey, Brian Charlesworth, Adam Eyre-Walker, Vernon Farewell, Andrew Mead & Stephen Senn: The outstanding scientist, R.A. Fisher: his views on eugenics and race analyse in depth the understandable criticism towards Fisher's association with eugenics. The purpose of their article "is neither to defend nor attack Fisher’s work in eugenics and views on race, but to present a careful account of their substance and nature." The authors conclude that recent criticism of R. A. Fisher concentrates "on very limited aspects of his work and focusses attention on some of his views, both in terms of science and advocacy. This is entirely appropriate, but in re-assessing his many contributions to society, it is important to consider all aspects, and to respond in a responsible way—we should not forget any negative aspects, but equally not allow the negatives to completely overshadow the substantial benefits to modern scientific research."

I do not think that the palmerpenguins dataset is a good candidate to replace iris in introductory to intermediate statistics, because it has missing values, it is imbalanced, and therefore it cannot be used in examples without the intermediate to advanced topics of imputation. Furthermore, R packages extend the R statistical ecosytem, and if the iris dataset is not suitable for its purpose, the criticism should be addressed to the R core team.

Example datasets should be chosen carefully #868

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