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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
The Geological Ideas of J. J. Berzelius
Contributor:
Frängsmyr, Tore
Published:
Cambridge University Press (CUP), 1976
Published in:
The British Journal for the History of Science, 9 (1976) 2, Seite 228-236
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1017/s0007087400014801
ISSN:
0007-0874;
1474-001X
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
The development of geology during the first half of the nineteenth century is now considered to be more complicated than was once thought. The positivistic picture of two conflicting schools, one of them allegedly modern and progressive, the other supposedly conservative and scriptural, is too simplistic and misleading. First, the influence of the Bible has been exaggerated. It is true that in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the Flood had been given an important role as a geological agent, but in the early nineteenth century there were hardly any professional geologists who defended this view. At least, it is not correct to associate either neptunism, catastrophism, or diluvialism with the Mosaic tradition. Secondly, the use of such terms as ‘catastrophism’ and ‘diluvialism’ has been unfortunate in so far as they have led to biblical associations; these terms must be given a more precise meaning. Thirdly, in the evaluation of the geology of the period, not enough weight has been given to the historical context. From our knowledge of modern geology alone it is not possible to judge what was loose speculation or empirical science at that time. Lyell's contributions to geology, as well as those of his opponents, should be considered and examined in more detail.