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May 28, 2019 · Updated May 28, 2019. By Mary Dowd. Evolutionist Charles Darwin found much inspiration in the work of his close friend and colleague, Charles Lyell. In turn, Lyell, a renowned geologist, used Darwin’s theories of evolution to influence his own bold ideas on earth science.
Lyell's scientific contributions included a pioneering explanation of climate change, in which shifting boundaries between oceans and continents could be used to explain long-term variations in temperature and rainfall. Lyell also gave influential explanations of earthquakes and developed the theory of gradual "backed up-building" of volcanoes.
Lyell. Lyell's uniformitarianism is a family of four related propositions, not a single idea: Uniformity of law – the laws of nature are constant across time and space. Uniformity of methodology – the appropriate hypotheses for explaining the geological past are those with analogy today.
Uniformitarianism is a theory based on the work of James Hutton and made popular by Charles Lyell in the 19 th century. This theory states that the forces and processes observable at earth’s surface are the same that have shaped earth’s landscape throughout natural history.
In Principles of Geology, 3 vol. (1830–33), Scottish geologist Sir Charles Lyell deciphered Earth’s history by employing Huttonian principles and made available a host of new geologic evidence supporting the view that physical laws are permanent and that any form of supernaturalism could be rejected.
Charles Lyell (1797 — 1875) was a Scottish lawyer and the foremost geologist of his day. He is best known as the author of Principles of Geology. It popularized geologist James Hutton’s concept of “uniformitarianism” — the idea that the Earth was shaped by slow-moving forces still in operation today.
Legacy. Lyell typified his times in beginning as an amateur geologist and becoming a professional by study and experience. Unlike most geologists then and now, however, he never considered observations and collections as ends in themselves but used them to build and test theories.
