The phrase, "The present is the key to the past," refers to the doctrine of ______ .
A) catastrophism
B) correlation
C) uniformitarianism
D) assemblage

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phrase "The present is the key to the past" is a fundamental principle of uniformitarianism, which suggests that the geological features of the Earth today can be explained by current geologic processes, which have operated throughout geological time. This principle is in contrast to the idea of catastrophism, which suggests that the Earth's features were shaped by sudden, catastrophic events. Correlation refers to the identification of rock layers or fossils in different geographic locations, while assemblage refers to the groupings of fossils found together in a particular location.

The Phrase, "The Present Is the Key to the Past