Theory of the Earth was a publication by James Hutton which laid the foundations for geology.[1][2] In it he showed that the Earth is the product of natural forces. What could be seen happening today, over long periods of time, could produce what we see in the rocks. It also hypothesized that the age of the Earth was much older than what biblical literalists claim.[3] This idea, uniformitarianism, was used by Charles Lyell in his work, and Lyell's textbook was an important influence on Charles Darwin. The work was first published in 1788[4] by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and later in 1795 as two book volumes.[5][6]
Theory of the Earth
The issue of the cover of Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh that the "Theory of the Earth" was first published
Hutton recognized that rocks record the evidence of the past action of processes which still operate today. He also anticipated natural selection, as follows: "Those which depart most from the best adapted constitution, will be the most liable to perish, while, on the other hand, those organised bodies, which most approach to the best constitution for the present circumstances, will be best adapted to continue, in preserving themselves and multiplying the individuals of their race".[7]
HistoryEdit
Hutton's prose hindered his theories.[8] They were not taken seriously until 1802, when Edinburgh University mathematics professor John Playfair restated Hutton's geological ideas in clearer, much simpler English.[3] However, he left out Hutton's thoughts on evolution.[9]Charles Lyell in the 1830s popularised the idea of an infinitely repeating cycle (of the erosion of rocks and the building up of sediment). Lyell believed in gradual change, and thought even Hutton gave too much credit to catastrophic changes.
Hutton's work was published in different forms and stages:
1788. Theory of the Earth; or an investigation of the laws observable in the composition, dissolution, and restoration of land upon the Globe. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. 1, Part 2, pp. 209–304.
1795. Theory of the Earth; with proofs and illustrations. 2 vols, Edinburgh: Creech.
1899. Theory of the Earth; with proofs and illustrations, vol III. Edited by Sir Archibald Geikie. Geological Society, Burlington House, London.
ReferencesEdit
^Scientific American (1892). "Theory of The Earth". Scientific American. 34 (872supp): 13938–13939. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican09171892-13938supp. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^Mather, Kirtley & Mason, Shirley L. (eds) [1939] 1967. A source book in Geology, 1400–1900. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 92–100. ISBN0-674-82277-3.
^ abGribbin, John. The Scientists: A History of Science Told Through the Lives of Its Greatest Inventors. New York, Random House, 2002. p. 315.
^Hutton, James (1788). "Theory of the Earth; or an Investigation of the Laws observable in the Composition, Dissolution, and Restoration of Land upon the Globe". Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1 (Part 2): 209–304. doi:10.1017/S0080456800029227. S2CID 251578886.
^Hutton, James (1795). Theory of the Earth. Vol. 1. Edinburgh.
^Hutton, James (1795). Theory of the Earth. Vol. 2. Edinburgh.
^Pearson, Paul N (2003). "In retrospect". Nature. 425 (6959): 665. Bibcode:2003Natur.425..665P. doi:10.1038/425665a. S2CID 161935273.
^Geikie, Archibald 1897 (1897). The founders of geology. London: Macmillan. p. 166.
^Playfair, John 1802. Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth. Edinburgh. Playfair added an important observation of his own: that glaciers can transport great quantities of rock.
External linksEdit
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theory, earth, publication, james, hutton, which, laid, foundations, geology, showed, that, earth, product, natural, forces, what, could, seen, happening, today, over, long, periods, time, could, produce, what, rocks, also, hypothesized, that, earth, much, old. Theory of the Earth was a publication by James Hutton which laid the foundations for geology 1 2 In it he showed that the Earth is the product of natural forces What could be seen happening today over long periods of time could produce what we see in the rocks It also hypothesized that the age of the Earth was much older than what biblical literalists claim 3 This idea uniformitarianism was used by Charles Lyell in his work and Lyell s textbook was an important influence on Charles Darwin The work was first published in 1788 4 by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and later in 1795 as two book volumes 5 6 Theory of the EarthThe issue of the cover of Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh that the Theory of the Earth was first publishedAuthorJames HuttonCountryScotlandLanguageEnglishSeriesTransactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Vol 1PublisherRoyal Society of EdinburghPublication date1788Hutton recognized that rocks record the evidence of the past action of processes which still operate today He also anticipated natural selection as follows Those which depart most from the best adapted constitution will be the most liable to perish while on the other hand those organised bodies which most approach to the best constitution for the present circumstances will be best adapted to continue in preserving themselves and multiplying the individuals of their race 7 History EditHutton s prose hindered his theories 8 They were not taken seriously until 1802 when Edinburgh University mathematics professor John Playfair restated Hutton s geological ideas in clearer much simpler English 3 However he left out Hutton s thoughts on evolution 9 Charles Lyell in the 1830s popularised the idea of an infinitely repeating cycle of the erosion of rocks and the building up of sediment Lyell believed in gradual change and thought even Hutton gave too much credit to catastrophic changes Hutton s work was published in different forms and stages 1788 Theory of the Earth or an investigation of the laws observable in the composition dissolution and restoration of land upon the Globe Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh vol 1 Part 2 pp 209 304 1795 Theory of the Earth with proofs and illustrations 2 vols Edinburgh Creech 1899 Theory of the Earth with proofs and illustrations vol III Edited by Sir Archibald Geikie Geological Society Burlington House London References Edit Scientific American 1892 Theory of The Earth Scientific American 34 872supp 13938 13939 doi 10 1038 scientificamerican09171892 13938supp Retrieved 24 February 2018 Mather Kirtley amp Mason Shirley L eds 1939 1967 A source book in Geology 1400 1900 Cambridge MA Harvard University Press 92 100 ISBN 0 674 82277 3 a b Gribbin John The Scientists A History of Science Told Through the Lives of Its Greatest Inventors New York Random House 2002 p 315 Hutton James 1788 Theory of the Earth or an Investigation of the Laws observable in the Composition Dissolution and Restoration of Land upon the Globe Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Royal Society of Edinburgh 1 Part 2 209 304 doi 10 1017 S0080456800029227 S2CID 251578886 Hutton James 1795 Theory of the Earth Vol 1 Edinburgh Hutton James 1795 Theory of the Earth Vol 2 Edinburgh Pearson Paul N 2003 In retrospect Nature 425 6959 665 Bibcode 2003Natur 425 665P doi 10 1038 425665a S2CID 161935273 Geikie Archibald 1897 1897 The founders of geology London Macmillan p 166 Playfair John 1802 Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth Edinburgh Playfair added an important observation of his own that glaciers can transport great quantities of rock External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theory of the Earth nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Theory of the Earth eBooks provided by Project Gutenberg Theory of the Earth 1795 vol 1 Theory of the Earth 1795 vol 2 nbsp This article about a book on geology is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theory of the Earth amp oldid 1170447635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
