Geology, Natural Theology, and Time 1. Introduction Romanticism

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Lecture 10: Geology, Natural Theology, and Time 1. Introduction Romanticism, Thermodynamics, and Evolution Geology, Stahl, Lavoisier, Goethe, and Thomson 2. Earth Theories in the 17th Century Genesis and James Ussher William Burnet: rational mechanism and Biblical theory Athanasius Kircher: earth’s circulatory system Nicolaus Steno: tongue stones, fossils, and strata Robert Hooke: fossils and earthquakes 3. Geological Puzzles Geology and theology Origins of rocks Volcanoes, earthquakes, and recent activity Fossils: did God make mistakes? 4. Earth Theories in the 18th Century Neptunism: Abraham Werner Vulcanists: Anton-Lazzaro Moro and William Hamilton Geology and natural theology Geology as a local science James Hutton: earth as an endlessly cycling machine 5. Geology, Industrialization, and Society Coal Canals Geological Maps: William Smith Geological Society of London Stratigraphy and the age of the earth 6. Uniformitarianism and Thermodynamics Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology Charles Darwin, as geologist Lyell and uniformity of state Sedgwick, Thomson, and the directional universe Further Reading: Stephen Jay Gould, Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle: Myth and Metaphor in the Discovery of Geological Time, 1987 Martin J.S. Rudwick, The Great Devonian Controversy: The Shaping of Science among Gentlemanly Specialists, 1985. Names and Dates: James Ussher (1581-1656), 23 October 4004 BC Nicolaus Steno (1638-1686), Dissertation Concerning a Solid Body Enclosed by Process of Nature Within a Solid (1669) Thomas Burnet (1636-1715), Sacred Theory of the Earth (1681) Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680), Mundus Subterraneus (1665) Anton-Lazzaro Moro (1687-1764), De’Crostacei e degli altri marini corpi che si truovano su’monti (1740) William Hamilton (1730-1803), Campi Phlregraei: Observations on the Volacnoes of the Two Sicilies (1776) Abraham Gottlob Werner (1750-1817) Neptunism vs. Vulcanism James Hutton (1726-1797), “Theory of the Earth” (1788) Geological Society of London, 1807 William Smith (1769-1839), Geological Map of England and Wales (1815) Charles Lyell (1797-1875), Principles of Geology (1830-1833) Catastrophism vs. Uniformitarianism Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895) .

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Darwin and Religion
Darwin and religion Activity 3: Controversy Subject: RE 2 x 45 minutes Suggested preparation What do I need? Presentation: Letter 2544 Thomas Huxley to Darwin, Darwin and religion 23 November 1859 Letter 2548 Adam Sedgwick to Darwin 24 November 1859 Letter 2534 Charles Kingsley to Darwin 18 Nov 1859 Letters questions Who’s who The publication of On the Origin of Species challenged and sometimes divided Darwin’s colleagues and peers in relation to their religious belief. Letters show how reactions to Darwin’s work were divided. In this activity we explore whether or not Darwin’s work can be compatible with religious faith. 1 Darwin Correspondence Project www.darwinproject.ac.uk Cambridge University Library CC-BY-ND 2.00 What do I do? 1. Read through the letters, Who’s who? and answer the letter questions. 2. Discuss why Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection might have been controversial at the time. 3. Divide into 3 groups: Group 1: Make a case for why Darwin’s theory might not be acceptable to a religious faith (of your choosing). Group 2: Make a case for how Darwin’s theory might be accommodated by a religious faith. Group 3: Make a case for how Darwin’s theory might reject a religious perspective. 4. Present your argument to the class, using evidence from Darwin’s letters. 2 Darwin Correspondence Project www.darwinproject.ac.uk Cambridge University Library CC-BY-ND 2.00 Letter 2544 Thomas Huxley to Charles Darwin, 23 November 1859 23 Nov 1859 My dear Darwin ...Since I read Von Bär’s Essays nine years ago no work on Natural History Science I have met with has made so great an impression upon me & I do most heartily thank you for the great store of new views you have given me Nothing I think can be better than the tone of the book—it impresses those who know nothing about the subject— As for your doctrines I am prepared to go to the Stake if requisite in support of Chap.
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References Geological Society, London, Memoirs
Geological Society, London, Memoirs References Geological Society, London, Memoirs 2002; v. 25; p. 297-319 doi:10.1144/GSL.MEM.2002.025.01.23 Email alerting click here to receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article service Permission click here to seek permission to re-use all or part of this article request Subscribe click here to subscribe to Geological Society, London, Memoirs or the Lyell Collection Notes Downloaded by on 3 November 2010 © 2002 Geological Society of London References ABBATE, E., BORTOLOTTI, V. & PASSERINI, P. 1970. Olistostromes and olis- ARCHER, J. B, 1980. Patrick Ganly: geologist. Irish Naturalists' Journal, 20, toliths. Sedimentary Geology, 4, 521-557. 142-148. ADAMS, J. 1995. Mines of the Lake District Fells. Dalesman, Skipton (lst ARTER. G. & FAGIN, S. W. 1993. The Fieetwood Dyke and the Tynwald edn, 1988). fault zone, Block 113/27, East Irish Sea Basin. In: PARKER, J. R. (ed.), AGASSIZ, L. 1840. Etudes sur les Glaciers. Jent & Gassmann, Neuch~tel. Petroleum Geology of Northwest Europe: Proceedings of the 4th Con- AGASSIZ, L. 1840-1841. On glaciers, and the evidence of their once having ference held at the Barbican Centre, London 29 March-1 April 1992. existed in Scotland, Ireland and England. Proceedings of the Geo- Geological Society, London, 2, 835--843. logical Society, 3(2), 327-332. ARTHURTON, R. S. & WADGE A. J. 1981. Geology of the Country Around AKHURST, M. C., BARNES, R. P., CHADWICK, R. A., MILLWARD, D., Penrith: Memoir for 1:50 000 Geological Sheet 24. Institute of Geo- NORTON, M. G., MADDOCK, R.
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