Lumpers and splitters are opposing factions in any discipline that has to place individual examples into rigorously defined categories. The lumper–splitter problem occurs when there is the desire to create classifications and assign examples to them, for example schools of literature, biological taxa and so on.

What does the term lumper mean?

1 : a laborer who handles freight or cargo. 2 : one who classifies organisms into large often variable taxonomic groups based on major characters — compare splitter.

Why is it called a lumper?

term meaning someone who loads or unloads freight. According to the dictionary it was first used in 1785.