GEOL 144 - History of Geology

FDR: SC
Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Fall 2010

A history of geology, from the 17th century to today. Topics include: nature of geologic time (cyclical versus linear) and duration of geologic events (uniformitarianism versus catastrophism), development of the geologic time scale, debates about the age of the Earth, continental drift and its rejection by the scientific community, and the formulation and acceptance of plate tectonics. Developments in geology are discussed in the context of various philosophies of science, including ideas promoted by Bacon, Gilbert, Chamberlin, Popper, Kuhn, and others.Rahl.