Introduction
Uniformitarianism has been associated with Sir Charles Lyell. He has been a well known British geologist and a lawyer who has made great contributions in the field of geology. The theory of evolution has been added to his account of the contributions as he has been the one reviewing the work by Lamarck and Darwin.
Discussion
Charles Lyell was born in Scotland in the year of 1797. His father was a botanist and a lawyer but he had lesser repute. Thereby this makes the fact clear that Charles Lyell had gained interest in the nature and its surroundings since he had been a boy by learning all about the nature from his father. “Introduction to Geology” by Robert Bakewell played its role in increasing an interest in geology of Charles (Weber 10).
House of birth of Charles Lyell was located in Central Lowlands in the valley of Highland Boundary Fault and this is a distinguished area in Scottish geology. Important natural views that were visible from his house were the farmlands and the Grampian Mountains in the High lands and Bartlet Lodge in England being of geological importance inspired Charles (Rudwick 25).
Charles was a lawyer and he worked for Lincoln’s Inn in the year of 1820. He constantly used to explore rural England in order to observe the geographies of the place. Geology was his full time profession since he joined in the geographical society in 1823. His main interests were the volcanic changes, and the geological dynamics.
One of the main contributions of Sir Charles relates to the theory of uniformitarianism. Lyell argued that there are many economic advantages related to the geological surveys (Lyell 25). Before Lyell had worked on earthquakes and volcanoes, they were recognized as the natural phenomena related with disasters. Lyell on the basis of geology explained the reasons associated with earthquakes. His most important contribution has been in stratigraphy where he has argued that the categorization of the strata layers can be done by estimating the number and proportions of the marine shells embedded within. He had researched a lot about the glaciers and according to him the glaciers can be one of the greatest sources for the erratic as these are the rocks that differ from the surrounding rock layer because it has been transported by a glacier (Larson 25).
The first book written by Lyell was “Principles of Geology” and three volumes of this book were released between the years of 1830 and 1833. Main achievement that the book gained is related to the redefining of the theory related to uniformitarianism. Uniformitarianism defines the processes as land erosion and changes in the sea floors. “Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man” was the second book published in the year of 1863 and in this book, Charles has discussed the geological changes in the quaternary periods of Earth. His book “Manual of Elementary Geology” discusses Charles visits to the geological details that he noticed in North America (Lyell 85).
Lyell rejected the idea of mutation of species given by Lamarck as he reviewed one of Lamarck’s books in 1827. Yet Charles admitted all the theories that were given by the scientists studying evolution as Charles argued that the newer species can be introduced in a naturally occurring process as he believed that the newer species only arise by natural processes.
Lyell accepted the theory of natural selection that was presented by Darwin and it has been argued in his book “Principles of Geology”. However Lyell always said that Darwin’s theory had been an extension of the theories of Lamarck and this was resented by Darwin who rejected the theories given by Lamarck. Darwin openly said that he was disappointed in Charles (Rudwick 58).
An importance has been gained in the field of research in accordance to the use of theories, laws as well as hypotheses. Laws in the field of science are a verbal or in some case mathematical statements which are reflective of the fundamental principles of sciences. Fact can be tested and it is a practical truth. If a phenomenon which is observable, is being explained in a logical manner than that concludes a hypothesis. All the empirical observations being explained by the use of an analytical manner is a theory (Riggs 25).
Conclusion
Elementary geology has been defined by the main works done by many scientists and this is inclusive of Charles Lyell. He has defined the earth quakes and the geology related to the occurrence of the volcanoes and earthquakes in a newer manner and this has been one of the pioneering changes in the field of geology.
Works Cited
Larson, John, Edward. Evolution: the remarkable history of a scientific theory: Volume 17 of Modern Library chronicles. Modern Library, 2004.
Lyell, Charles. Principles of Geology: Being an Attempt to Explain the Former Changes of the Earth,s Surface. BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009.
Lyell, Charles. The Student’s Elements of Geology. Kessinger Publishing, 2004.
Riggs, J. Peter. Natural kinds, laws of nature and scientific methodology: Volume 12 of Australasian studies in history and philosophy of science: Volume 12 of Nutrients in Ecosystems: Natural Kinds, Laws of Nature and Scientific Methodology. Springer, 1996.
Rudwick, M. J. S. Lyell and Darwin, geologists: studies in the earth sciences in the age of reform: Volume 818 of Collected studies: Variorum collected studies ; CS818. Ashgate, 2005.
Weber, S. Alan. Nineteenth century science: a selection of original texts: G – Reference., and Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. Broadview Press, 2000.