The acceptance of the 18th century concept of uniformitarianism inevitably led to the acceptance of ________.
A)Darwin's theory of evolution
B)an extremely old age for the Earth
C)Ussher's calculations
D)a geologic evolution for Earth that was free from catastrophes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The concept of uniformitarianism suggests that the processes that shape and change the Earth's surface today are the same processes that have been at work for a very long time. This led to the conclusion that the Earth must be very old, which was incompatible with Ussher's calculations of a young Earth. It also suggested that geological change occurred gradually over time, rather than through catastrophic events, which would support a geologic evolution for the Earth that was free from catastrophes. However, it did not directly lead to acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution.

The Acceptance of the 18th Century Concept of Uniformitarianism Inevitably