Early Theories of Evolution: 17th-19th century discoveries

CATASTROPHISM

There are a number of examples of Catastrophism; volcanoes, floods, and earthquakes. These were responsible for mass extinctions and the formation of all landforms. French anatomist and paleontologist Georges Cuvier developed scientific proponent of catastrophism in the early 19th century. He wanted to argue the patterns of extinction and faunal successtion that he and others were researching about the fossil record. Thus, catastrophism was an important theory in 19th century due to the influence of Jameson and Buckland who supported natural theology.

NEPTUNISM

Neptunism is a scientific theory of geology addressed by Abraham Gottlob Werner in the late 18th century. The name of theory took from Neptune who was the ancient Roman god of the sea. This theory demonstrated that rocks typically formed from the minerals' crystallization in the early Earth's oceans. There was so much debate between Neptunists and plutonism that proposed a important role to volcanic origins. Modern geology describes the sedimentary rock's formation based on the neptunism, and accepts lots of different forms of rock formation. These classification and description in 1787 demonstrate that age of rocks based on the order of layers of differing material, rather than by the types of minerals.

UNIFORMITARIANISM

Charles Lyell's multi-volume Principles of Geology was proposed from 1830 to 1833. The work was for explaining the previous changes of the Earth's surface by reference to causes now in operation. His idea with field studies developed Hutton's idea that the earth was shaped completely by slow-moving forces. The uniformitarianism was for this idea and catastrophism was for the opposite viewpoint, were appeared by William Whewell in a review of Lyell's book.

Principles of Geology was the most powerful geological work in the middle of the 19th century.

#social #pr #pressrelease #market #clients