Uniformitarianism The Present Is the Key to the Past

Uniformitarianism is a geological theory that describes the processes shaping the earth and the Universe. It states that changes in the earths crust throughout history have resulted from the action of uniform, continuous processes that are still occurring today. Overview In the mid-seventeenth century, biblical scholar and Archbishop James Ussher determined that the earth had been created in the year 4004 B.C. Just over a century later, James Hutton, known as the father of geology, suggested that the earth was much older and that processes occurring in the present were the same as those that had operated in the past and that will operate in the future. This concept became known as uniformitarianism and can be summarized by the phrase the present is the key to the past. It was a direct rejection of the prevalent theory of the time, catastrophism, which held that only violent disasters could modify the surface of the earth. Today, we hold uniformitarianism to be true and know that great disasters such as earthquakes, asteroids, volcanoes, and floods are also part of the regular cycle of the earth. The Earth is estimated to be approximately 4.55 billion years old and the planet has certainly had enough time for abrupt, as well as slow, continuous processes to mold and shape  the earth—including the tectonic movement of the continents around the globe. The Evolution of Uniformitarianism  Theory The two major scientists in the advancement from catastrophism towards uniformitarianism were the 18th-century Scottish framer and geologist James Hutton and the 19th-century British lawyer-turned-geologist Charles Lyell. James Hutton Hutton based his theory on the slow, natural processes that he observed on the landscape. He realized that, if given enough time, a stream could carve a valley, ice could erode rock, sediment could accumulate and form new landforms. He speculated that millions of years would have been required to shape the earth into its contemporary form. Unfortunately, Hutton isnt often associated with uniformitarianism. Even though he published his Theory of the Earth and presented its abstract to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a lot of criticism followed and the times werent ready for his ideas. Hutton did publish a three-volume book on the topic, but his writing was so complicated that it failed to win him deserved recognition. However, the famous line that became associated with uniformitarianism—we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end—does come from Huttons 1785 paper on the entirely new theory of geomorphology (the study of landforms and their development). Sir Charles Lyell It was the  19th-century  scholar Sir Charles Lyell whose  Principles of Geology popularized the concept of uniformitarianism. In Lyells time, catastrophism was still very popular, which pushed him to question the standard of the times and turn to Huttons theories. He traveled Europe, searching for evidence to prove Huttons ideas and eventually, his work became one of the most influential of the century. The name uniformitarianism itself comes from William Whewell, who coined the term in his review of Lyells work. To Lyell, the history of both earth and life was vast and directionless and his work became so influential that Darwins own theory of evolution follows the same principle of slow, almost imperceptible changes. University of California Museum of Paleontology states that Darwin envisioned evolution as a sort of biological uniformitarianism. Severe Weather and Uniformitarianism As the concepts of uniformitarianism evolved, it has adapted to include an understanding of the importance of short-term cataclysmic events in the formation and shaping of the world. In 1994, the U.S. National Research Council stated: It is not known whether the relocation of materials on the surface of the Earth is dominated by the slower but continuous fluxes operating all the time or by the spectacular large fluxes that operate during short-lived cataclysmic events. On a practical level, uniformitarianism hinges upon the belief that both long-term patterns and short-term natural disasters reoccur throughout the course of history, and for that reason, we can look to the present to see what has happened in the past. The rain from a storm slowly erodes the soil, wind moves sand in the Sahara desert, floods change the course of a river, volcano eruptions and earthquakes suddenly displace land masses, and in what occurs today uniformitarianism unlocks the keys to the past and the future. Yet modern geologists also realize that not all processes that were at work in the past are happening today. The first millions of years of Earths history were vastly different from our current conditions. There were times when Earth was showered with solar debris or when plate tectonics didnt exist as we know them. In this way, instead of being conceived of as an absolute truth, uniformitarianism provides us with another explanation that helps create a more complete picture of the processes that shape the Earth and the Universe. Sources Robert Bates and Julia Jackson,  Glossary of Geology, 2nd edition, American Geological Institute, 1980, pg. 677Davis,​​​ Mike.  ECOLOGY OF FEAR: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster.  Macmillan, 1998.​Lyell, Charles.  Principles of Geology. Hilliard, Gray Co., 1842.Tinkler, Keith J. A Short History of Geomorphology. Barnes Noble Books, 1985Uniformitarianism: Charles Lyell Understanding Evolution. 2019. University of California Museum of Paleontology.

Summary of Industrial Convergence, Globalization, and the...

Summary Arrighi,G,. Silver,J,B,. and Brewer,D,B,. 2003. Industrial Convergence, Globalization, and the Persistence of the North-South Divide. Studies in Comparative International Development. p.3-31 Through the use of descriptive and comparative analysis, the authors intend on demonstrating that the convergence of the industrialization gap was not accompanied by a convergence in the income levels gap between former First World and Third World countries. Thus, the North-South divide still exists. Through economic models, the persistence of the North-South income divide is explained. Simultaneously, the authors discuss the development project and globalization project and how the shifts occurred. Additionally, the reproduction of the†¦show more content†¦Due to this legacy, it is anticipated that decolonization and industrialization of Third World countries would reduce the North-South divide. The authors moreover, explain that theories of national development believed that industrialization was essential for Third World countries to attain wealth standards of the First World countries. This became the objective of the Third World development efforts and the narrowing of the industrialization gap was the instrument through which this would be achieved (Arrighi,G,. Silver,J,B,. and Brewer,D,B,. 2003.p.6). This subsequently led to synonymous use of industrialization and development. To conclude this subsection, the authors provide reasons to why the paper focuses on industrialization and the North-South divide. Firstly, the reasons for focusing on industrialization are because the authors wish to verify empirically the validity of the theory (or assumption) that industrialization is the most effective means of achieving the development efforts objective. Further reasons include that industrialization has costs and benefits, but these quantifiable costs are visible and invisible. On the other hand, the focus on the North-South divide is aimed at assessing the success or failure of the Third World development efforts. In the next subsection, the authors use empiricalShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2 005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesAmerican History. Revised and Expanded Edition E SSAYS ON _ T WENTIETH- C ENTURY H ISTORY Edited by Michael Adas for the American Historical Association TEMPLE UNIVERSITY PRESS PHILADELPHIA Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright  © 2010 by Temple University All rights reserved Published 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Essays on twentieth century history / edited by

Poetry Essay peaches and cream Example For Students

Poetry Essay: peaches and cream The poets complete focus is on the individuals ambiguity, his suffering and his abhorrent fate. He detailed deterioration the of the thoughts which the tribe men had, he further dramatists the memories of hunts of yore and of fights he fought. The poem carries a elegiac mood as the poet invokes a sad and bleak image of Willie Mackenzie, who is the last existing member of his tribe he pictures him as if someone were re kindling the fire of memory in the poet . The poet uses Willie Mackenzie as a symbol of the tribes that disappeared ad the culture and times that are disappearing with them Derek POP). The poets complete focus is on the individuals ambiguity, his suffering and his abhorrent fate. He detailed determination the of the thoughts which the tribe men had, he further dramatists the memories of hunts of yore and of fights he fought. The poem carries a elegiac mood as the poet invokes a sad and bleak image of Willie Mackenzie, who is the last existing member of his tribe he pictures him as if someone were re kindling the fire of memory in the poet . The poet uses Willie Mackenzie as a symbol of the tribes that disappeared ad the culture and times that are disappearing with them Derek pap). The poet emphasizes on elements of fauna as well as the tribes cultural artifact such as boomerangs, mullah, sling as well as spear abide with wallops, rocks as well as thunder. Codger Announcers memory of is the most wonderful part about the poem as it helps the poet in describing the past quite clearly: the poet gives an clear Illustration of the happy hunts that this tribe experienced prior to the Invasion of the white in the twentieth century era. The poem consists of thirty five lines. It Is divided Into seven formal verses and consists of baby rhyming. Codger Announced was expressive and assertive so much so that she was successful in drawing the reader to her persona. Due to this the reader sympathizes for Willie, exactly Like the poet Is particular In the line All gone, all gone. And I feel The sudden sting of tears. The kind of verse the poet has made use of is a formal verse. The poet tries to give a clear picture of the Australian landscape In verse Is exemplified here, Due to her tone and emotions she Is successful in portraying the unique proceedings of the Australian scenery as well as their history in a regretful and sympathetic manner. Announced presents, the environmental destruction which we can Imagine Just by reading the poem and by using the twentieth century style she shows the sad irony of their circumstances. Time when the Aboriginal people were fighting for their freedom. His tone is very a strong sad tone, a tone full of hopelessness. His poem is based a on a person who fought for their freedom, till he feel sick and his people did not support him. The way the poet highlights the likes and dislikes of this person symbolizes that he was an ordinary person who Just wanted freedom for his people. The reason behind him naming the poem peaches and cream is thats what this mans; intentions were as sweet and good as peaches and cream is. The ending of the poem is, similarly to the beginning, ambiguous. It is unclear whom the poet is referring to when he states in the first verse you like peaches and cream, And white bodies made urgent also following with the conversational tone established in the last line. One interpretation of this is that he is expressing the realization that if things are going to progress then there is a definite need for greater unity and understanding among all Australian people, without racial division. POE, the Poet, the Opposed, the Exquisite EssayThe utilization of unique kind of rhyming makes the it a wonderful poem. The poem highlights the fact that there were people who were fighting for them so that Aborigines could also be known as Australian as White Australians, and the likelihood to unite the two cultures as one so that they might progress together. The use of the following lines:Perhaps one day Ill understand,Though many didnt and called you hypocrite;But they didnt another even Christian peaches and creamy be sweet with a taste of injustice,And try to sweeten it more with you. (www. As. SLD. Deed. /downloads/assessment/see_English_sub_notice_mar_08. )The above mentioned verse illustrates the fact that the composer is experiencing an inner Journey as he is experiencing an internal battle. The poem consists of the poets strong emotional feelings for the cause which this person was fighting for, and his control to suppress this anger does not actually diminish the anger. These lines also exhibit the anger he has for people who called this freedom fighter a hypocrite; he further uses the peaches and cream as symbols of sweetness and richness that he brought to his people. The line in the last stanza shows confusion:Last night I saw you on the tell,ProJecting Jesus and his message,Perhaps one day Ill understand(www. As. SLD. Deed. AU/ downloads/assessment/see_English_sub_notice_mar_08. )At the beginning he states that the person he is referring to was a religious person and fought for their freedom while keeping Jesus message in mind. But the fact that he says that perhaps one day he will understand could mean that he does not understand the message given by the person who he is referring to , which seems very strange since throughout the memo he is clearly describing his likes and dislikes. And praising him and his efforts. Conclusion Undoubtedly then these poems clearly illustrate the eras in which they were written. Themes, craft as well as points of view reflect diverse periods the emotions and approach so efficiently to us nowadays when we need personal faithfulness, tribal unity and economic certainty. Work Cited: Derek Lewis; Poetry Workbook, Pa scal press 2006 powwow. As. SLD. Deed. AU/downloads/assessment/see_English_sub_notice_mar_08. PDF retrieved on 13 July 2008