Reading Notes for Cuvier, Lyell, and Earth History

Wilson (1998), Rudwick (1998), Lyell (1997), p. 5-8, and Rudwick (1990)

The readings introduce you to Charles Lyell and his major work, The Principles of Geology. The articles by Wilson and Rudwick were included within a special publication of the Geological Society of London that celebrated the bicentennial of Lyell's birth.

Wilson, p. 21-27

Leonard Wilson is the author of a detailed biography of Lyell (although it only covers the years to 1841). Wilson's article covers the basics of Lyell's early life, including the early geological influences and travels that were so important in his writing of the Principles.

Lyell read a wide variety of European languages, at least in part so he could read most of the geological literature. He made use of these various sources in writing the Principles but he also drew on his first-hand field experiences. He visited geologists throughout Europe during his travels - examining specimens, taking field excursions, discussing geology - and undertook his own field work in several areas. As you read this synopsis, you should consider the importance of some aspects of Lyell's geological background: the work of Cuvier and Brongniart, and Prevost, Lyell's studies of lake deposits, the extinct volcanoes of the Auvergne (Scrope), the Italian volcanoes (particularly Etna). How did he use these diverse sources in developing his unique vision of Earth history?

Rudwick (1990), p. i-xv

Rudwick's article introduces the 1990 University of Chicago Press reprint of the entire text of the first edition of The Principles of Geology. We will be reading it in parallel with Secord's abridgment because Rudwick's introduction provides an extremely valuable "roadmap" to the text argument.

Rudwick lays out his objectives in the opening paragraphs before turning to an discussion on "The Making of the Principles". Here he discusses the geological and philosophical influences on Lyell, how the book came to be written, and his uses of uniformity (echoing other articles that you have read). The actually summary/commentary starts on p. xv.

Rudwick, p. 3-10

Rudwick's articles provides an update on his introduction to the Principles. Here he provides some of the background on its publication, but he really focuses on Lyell's geological argument. His discussion of "resources" expands upon Wilson's discussion by considering the theoretical models that Lyell drew upon, and itemizing how Lyell made us of the work of Prevost, von Hoff, Scrope, and Brocchi.

This is then followed by an outline of the argument of the Principles. Rudwick's analysis will become more familiar in coming weeks, but this is a good point to get the "three-page summary". You may skip the rest of the article (Transformations of the Principles).

To do

These readings provide insight to how Lyell developed his geological ideas. Some questions that we may want to consider:

• What were the sources for Lyell's geological knowledge?
• Can you list the sources noted in these texts?
• How did he make use of these sources in the Principles?
• How did he modify to suite his own argument?
• What were the sources for Lyell's ideas of "uniformity"?
• What aspects of the directionalist synthesis did he attack?
• What was his own alternative interpretation?

Rudwick (1990) p. xv-xvi and Lyell (1997), p. 5-8

The opening five chapters of Volume I discuss the nature of geology, its history, and identifies some of the past errors of geologic study.

Chapter 1 presents Lyell's definition of geology and its proper subject matter. I would suggest reading Rudwick's summary before Lyell's text because Rudwick provides a good roadmap to the main argument. You will notice that Lyell makes extensive use of analogies with historians tackle human history, including his vision of how geology draws upon other sciences in the same way history uses ethics, politics, etc. The obvious question is: What is the proper subject matter for geology? What is not?