Podstawowe założenie teoretyczne Principles Of Geology(1830-33) Charlesa Lyella

• Autorzy: Gęgotek J.

Warianty tytułu

EN

The Basic Theoretical Assumptions of Charles Lyell`s Principles of Geology (1830-1833)

• Języki publikacji: PL

Abstrakty

EN

The aim of the paper is reconstruction of basic ontological assumptions revealed in the Charles LyelFs Principles of Geology. The most important of them was the principle of uniformitarianism. Unfortunately, Lyell never gave precise and unambiguous formulation of the principle, and, as a consequence, opinions about its meaning are discrepant. Analysis of the Lyell's reasoning revealed that he treated it as a principle of uniformity of geological laws and of kind and degree of geological factors. On the other hand, he did not accept uniformity of geological results and did not accentuate gradualism as strong as many commentators suppose. For Lyell the Earth was the place of incessant changes, but the changes did not have determined direction, there were neither progressive, nor regressive. The Earth was therefore in the equilibrium, in the 'steady-state' condition. Another important feature of the geological changes in Lyell's theory was their limited predictability. This was the result of the complexity of the geological system, of the nature of the main geological factor - earthquakes, and of methodological assumption of Lyell, who wanted not only to present general, theoretical model of changes, but also to take into consideration concrete, particular phenomena. Lyell distinguished two main classes of geological factors - igneous and aqueous ones. On the other hand, he diminished the meaning of organic factors in the transforming of the Earth crust. In his explanations, Lyell appealed mainly to naturalistic, secondary causes and to factors internal towards to Earth system. One of the most important problems for Lyell was defining a place for the man in the geological system. He had to harmonise the thesis of recent appearance of human beings on the Earth with the evidence of their influence on the Earth surface and the conviction about special place of the man with naturalism of geological method. As a result, he constructed unique form of dualism. As the physical side of the man he classified all these human qualities, which have influence on the nature (also some qualities of human mind), as the moral side - only these ones, which do not have such influence, e.g. consciousness. Especially crucial element of Lyell theory was his notion of geological time. In the concept of this category one can notice tension between attitude characteristic for physician and for historian. Geological time was for Lyell not only extremely long, but also as if 'extensible'. It might have almost arbitrary value. Lyell's idea of time is located between the notion of 'time's cycle' and 'time's arrow'. There was the sequence of non-cyclic, but also non-directional changes. All ontological ideas played an important role in the Lyell theory. He presented only these explanations, which were compatible with them.

Słowa kluczowe

PL

Lyella, Charles; zasada jednostajności; jednostajność; teza uniformitaryzmu; człowiek i jego miejsce w systemie geologicznym

EN

Lyella, Charles; principle of uniformity; uniformity; principle of uniformitarianism; place for man in the geological system

• Wydawca: Instytut Historii Nauki im. L. i A. Birkenmajerów Polskiej Akademii Nauk
• Czasopismo: Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki
• Rocznik: 2008
• Tom: R. 53, nr 3-4
• Strony: 227--257

Twórcy

autor

Gęgotek J.

• Instytut Filozofii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego