Concepts of Natural Law and Time in the History of Geology

1989 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Guntau
Keyword(s):  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Natural Laws ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of Geology ◽  
Cyclic Processes ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Law

Our contemporary conceptions of time in terms of geology have developed since the Renaissance. In addition to an adequate notion of the age of the earth, these ideas include different concepts of the nature of geological processes in history. Until the 19th century the different concepts of geological time were determined by views on cyclic processes and processes which have a direction, as well as sequences of events, with or without relations between their various phases. These different aspects of geological thought have finally been incorporated into evolutionary conceptions of geohistory. Despite objective and epistemological problems, geological laws were formulated in the history of geology such as the law of superposition by Steno in 1669, the law of stratigraphy by Smith in 1799, and the law of development of the earth by Cotta in 1858. Laws of nature are interpreted as essential correlations of a general and necessary nature which exist independently of human cognition. Some fundamental geological processes have not been effective throughout the history of the earth. Presupposing that these processes were governed by natural laws as well, it is inferred that laws of nature exist over certain different periods of time. There are four possibilities of how long laws of nature, or combinations of them, can exist: (1) temporally unlimited existence, (2) existence from the beginning up to a certain point in time, (3) existence from a certain point in time up to the present time, (4) existence over a certain past period of time. Thus the science of geology shows that natural laws are of a historical nature, in that they do not exist eternally nor everywhere.

A Discussion on the evolution of the Precambrian crust - Introductory remarks

1973 ◽  
Vol 273 (1235) ◽  
pp. 316-316 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Early History ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Precambrian Rocks ◽  
The Past ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of

The realization that the behaviour of the Earth has changed radically during geological time has come about largely in the last decade. This development, which constitutes one of the major advances in geological thinking, results from the study of Precambrian phenomena in many parts of the world and in particular from the work of a small number of geochronologists. In the last ten years as large numbers of unfossiliferous Precambrian rocks have been dated, it has become clear that the nature of geological processes has varied throughout geological time and that one of the cardinal doctrines of geology - the concept that the present is the key to the past — could not be applied to the study of the early history of the Earth.

scholarly journals Classic Rock Tours 1. Hutton’s Unconformity at Siccar Point, Scotland: A Guide for Visiting the Shrine on the Abyss of Time

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42
Author(s):  
Andrew Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Charles Darwin ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Charles Lyell ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of Geology ◽  
De Se ◽  
History Of ◽  
Devonian Age

The angular unconformity at Siccar Point in Scotland is one of the most famous localities in the history of geology. At this spot, steeply dipping, folded turbiditic sandstone of early Silurian age is clearly overlain by subhorizontal red conglomerate, breccia and sandstone of late Devonian age. Siccar Point was not the first unconformity ever to be described or illustrated, but it is unquestionably one of the most spectacular and informative that geologists are likely to see. In June of 1788, a famous excursion by James Hutton, John Playfair and Sir James Hall first discovered this striking evidence for the cyclic nature of geological processes and the probable antiquity of the Earth. Contrary to myth, it was likely not the inspiration for Hutton’s famous phrase no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end, but Playfair’s metaphor of looking so far into the abyss of time is forever associated with this place. Siccar Point influenced many other geologists, including the young Charles Lyell, who would eventually bring the ideas of James Hutton together with those of William Smith, to build the uniformitarian paradigm that founded modern geology. Lyell’s writings would in turn influence the young Charles Darwin in his search for the reality and causes of evolution. Siccar Point is easy to visit from the historic and vibrant city of Edinburgh, and such a pilgrimage is easily combined with other sights of geological or cultural interest. Visiting the shrine involves a short coastal hike in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. This article combines practical advice for would-be pilgrims to Siccar Point with some historical context about its pivotal role in the development of geological ideas in the enlightenment of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.RÉSUMÉLa discordance angulaire de Siccar Point en Écosse est l'une des localités les plus célèbres de l'histoire de la géologie. À cet endroit, un grès turbiditique plissé à fort pendage du début du Silurien est recouvert de conglomérats rouges subhorizontaux, de brèches et d’un grès de la fin du Dévonien. Siccar Point n'est pas la première discordance qui ait été décrite ou illustrée, mais c'est sans conteste l'une des plus spectaculaires et révélatrices que les géologues puissent voir. En juin 1788, avec leur célèbre excursion, James Hutton, John Playfair et Sir James Hall ont découvert cette preuve frappante de la nature cyclique des processus géologiques et de l`ancienneté probable de la Terre. Contrairement à ce qu'on croit, ce n'est probablement pas la fameuse phrase de Hutton « aucun vestige d'un début, aucune perspective de fin », mais la métaphore de Playfair « voir si loin dans l'abîme du temps » qui est à jamais associée à ce lieu. Siccar Point a influencé de nombreux autres géologues, y compris le jeune Charles Lyell, qui a fini par réunir les idées de James Hutton et celles de William Smith qui ont défini le paradigme uniformitariste, devenu le fondement de la géologie moderne. Les écrits de Lyell influenceront à leur tour le jeune Charles Darwin dans sa recherche de la réalité et des causes de l'évolution. Il est facile de se rendre à Siccar Point depuis cette ville chargée d'histoire et dynamique qu’est Édimbourg, et un tel pèlerinage se combine facilement avec d'autres sites d'intérêt géologique ou culturel. La visite de ce « sanctuaire » implique une courte randonnée côtière dans l'une des plus belles régions d'Écosse. Le présent article combine des conseils pratiques pour les visiteurs potentiels à Siccar Point et présente un historique de son rôle central dans le développement des idées géologiques à la fin du XVIIIe siècle et au début du XIXe siècle.

Teaching the History of Geology

1993 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-242
Author(s):  
David Leveson
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Brooklyn College ◽  
Original Writings ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of Geology ◽  
Current Belief ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Undergraduate Science ◽  
Sophisticated Technology

The content and form of a course in the history of geology are dictated by the nature of the subject matter, the conceived purpose of the course, the background of the instructor and the students who participate, and the availability of appropriate readings. In an undergraduate course just offered by the Brooklyn College Geology Department, half the class were geology majors, half non-science majors. The stated aim of the course was epistemological: a consideration of how one comes to believe something. Investigation was pursued through a comparison of different historiographic accounts of major ideas, episodes and figures in the history of geology: the age of the earth; the meaning of fossils; 17th and 18th C ‘theories of the earth’; the denudation dilemma; the basalt and granite controversies; directionalism; Lyell's ‘uniformitarianism’; fluvialism, diluvialism, and glacialism. Where possible, original writings were consulted; the recent advent of a low cost reprint of Lyell's "Principles" was particularly fortunate. Inevitably, the methods, boundaries, controls, and workings of science were questioned, as was the meaning of ‘truth.’ The history of geology is a particularly useful tool for such an epistemological investigation because, prior to its mid-19th C professionalization, geology was relatively free of arcane jargon or sophisticated technology; thus, it is accessible to students with minimal scientific background. The students came to appreciate the relative character of knowledge and the probable evanescence of current belief. As for myself, trained as a geologist, I came to respect the insights and problems of historians, philosophers and sociologists, and to appreciate the pitfalls and opportunities of teaching in an area beyond one's expertise. Going out on a limb, I suggest that a course in the history of geology could serve well as partially fulfilling undergraduate science requirements.

Knowledge From Underground: Leibniz Mines the Enlightenment

1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Hamm
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Administrative Work ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of Geology ◽  
Late Eighteenth ◽  
Mining Machinery ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Fantastic

The history of geology has focused largely on the foundations of geology in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Considerable attention has also been given to grand theories of the earth, or cosmogonies, of the seventeenth century. This approach has left out most of eighteenth-century mineralogy; it has also left out mining. The argument here is that Leibniz's Protogaea is best understood in the context of the Harz mines, where Leibniz spent considerable energy doing administrative work and inventing new mining machinery. By looking to the mines we not only make sense of Protogaea, but of most of German mineralogy in the eighteenth century. J. G. Lehmann, J. F. W. Charpentier, C. G. Delius and many other practitioners working in and around mines were deeply concerned with mapping the subterranean structure of the earth's crust and they contrasted their work with the "fantastic" world of theorists. The Freiberg Mining Academy, other institutions, and the way vocabularies of mining changed will also be considered. Finally there are some concluding thoughts on why mining has almost disappeared from the history of geology.

scholarly journals The early history of the earth

1988 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
C. P. Snyman
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Early History ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
By Products

In view of the principle of actualism the early history of the earth must be explained on the basis of present-day natural phenomena and the basic Laws of Nature. The study of the solar system leads to the conclusion that the planets were formed as by-products when the sun developed from a rotating cloud of cosmic gas and dust. The protoplanets or planetesimals could have accreted as a result of mutual collisions, during which they could have become partly molten so that they could differentiate into a crust, a mantle and a core on the basis of differences in density.

scholarly journals Sequence of studying engineering and geological conditions of mineral deposits from exploration to development

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 83-91
Author(s):  
Irina V. Abaturova ◽  
◽  
Ivan A. Savintsev ◽  
Liubov A. Storozhenko ◽  
Elvina D. Nugmanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Geological Environment ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Geological Conditions ◽  
Geological Information ◽  
Further Development

geological environment. Actively change all the components of engineering-geological conditions (EGC), formed during the long geological time: the topography, structure of rocks, hydrogeological and permafrost conditions, are formed by geological processes and, at the same time on the surface of the Earth formed a new strata of man-made structures, and often man-made deposits. The scale of technogenesis in mining today is comparable to the results of geological activity that took place over many millions of years. Therefore, even at the early stages of studying the EGC MD, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of changes in the EGC in order to provide preliminary protective measures. Purpose of work. Consideration of striking examples of the dynamics of the EGC MD (from exploration to development), in order to provide methods for managing these changes. Methodology. The article considers the stages of obtaining engineering and geological information for the period of MD operation, which will solve the problems of rational use of the subsoil and protection of the geological environment. Results. For example, the number of objects marked all the stages of learning to yoke the dynamics of their changes, which led to the formation of engineering-geological processes that adversely affect the further testing of MD. Summary. The reaction of the geological environment in the development of MD is not long in coming and is expressed in the development of large-scale engineering and geological processes, which often do not allow further development of MD and threaten people's lives. Therefore, even at the early stages of studying the EGC MD, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of changes in the EGC in order to provide preliminary protective measures.

scholarly journals Desenvolvimento de atividade lúdica para o auxílio do ensino e divulgação científica da paleontologia

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Diogo Jorge de Melo ◽  
Ana Carolina Fortes Bastos ◽  
Vanessa Maria da Costa Rodrigues ◽  
Vinícius De Moraes Monção
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Board Game ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Earth History ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of

Herein is described the development of a ludical activity in Paleontology with the purpose to apply the concepts of the geological time and the processes that occurred along the history of the Earth. This activity, that was teste in the event "Bio na Rua" of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, consisted on the use of didactic panels concerning paleontological themes, geological time chart, fossil and ichnofossil concepts, the development of a board game showing the Earth history and origami workshops.

scholarly journals Main biostratigraphic stages in the Earth history. Technogenic scenarios

2013 ◽  
pp. 127-138
Author(s):  
G. Rudko ◽  
P. Zagorodnyuk
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Continuous Transformation ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Global Catastrophe

The biostratigraphic history of the Earth as a process of continuous transformation and adaptation from the primary forms of life and till its current state had been considered in the present article.  The development of life on the Earth had started due to the changes of geological processes, changes of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and the aquatic environment, within the period of global catastrophe. As a result of more than 3.8 billion years the anthropogenic system «human – geological and related environment» was formed; it transformed the biosphere in accordance with the needs of human, creating the precedent of inconsistency between human needs and biosphere resources.  The basic scenarios of human and biosphere development within the technogene were defined. The results of studies helped to identify the biostratigraphic conditions of the Earth life. The article investigates scenarios of technogene development as well as the role of human under the conditions of intensive biosphere transformation due to the anthropogenic activities.   

Carl Schmitt, Nomos of the Earth, and the Question of Historic Title in International Law

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-143
Author(s):  
Anthony Carty
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Case Law ◽  
The State ◽  
Carl Schmitt ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
The Earth ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Law ◽  
Western Law ◽  
Raymond Aron

Abstract The Western international law of territory starts from a standpoint of the priority of the State over its population. The latter is merely an object of the ownership of the State. Title to territory rests on dominant evidence of State activity. The activity of so-called private individuals or economic activity of peoples do not count towards title to territory in the case law of international tribunals. This article contests the foundations of such a perspective. The so-called Western law of territory was devised by Western States to divide up among themselves the territory of non-Western ‘non-peoples’, culminating in the racist Island of Palmas Arbitration. Carl Schmitt provides the makings of an alternative history of the law of territory. It is, and should be, the law of the homelands of peoples, historically located on particular spaces. Peoples precede States, which are merely institutions used by Peoples to protect and administer their homelands. Whatever the difficulties of locating the homelands to which Peoples belong, escape into the so-called Western law of territory as a way to ‘Peace through the Rule of Law’ is an illusion – described contemptuously by the political theorist Raymond Aron as a Law of empty spaces. Without justice, there is no law.

scholarly journals On the Devonian age of the World

The Geologist ◽  
1861 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 332-347
Author(s):  
W. Pengelly
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
Astronomical Time ◽  
History Of ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Devonian Age

The rooks composing the earth's crust contain a history and represent time—a history of changes numerous, varied, and important: changes in the distribution of land and water; in the thermal conditions of the world; and in the character of the organic tribes which have successively peopled it. The time required for these mutations must have been vast beyond human comprehension, requiring, for its expression, units of a higher order than years or centuries. In the existing state of our knowledge it is impossible to convert geological into astronomical time: it is at present, and perhaps always will be, beyond our power to determine how many rotations on its axis, or how many revolutions round the sun the earth made between any two recognised and well-marked events in its geological history. Nevertheless it is possible, and eminently convenient, to break up geological time into great periods: it must not be supposed, however, that such periods are necessarily equal in chronological, organic, or lithological value; or separated from one another by broadly marked lines of demarcation; or that either their commencements or terminations in different and widely separated districts were strictly synchronous.One of the terms in the chronological series of the geologist is known as the Devonian, that which preceeded it the Silurian, and the succeeding one the Carboniferous period; and these, with some others of less importance, belong to the Palæozoic or ancient-life epoch, or group of periods.

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