James Hutton is known today as the founder of modern geology. Born in a time before geology, his obsession with the origin of the earth led to the discovery of a new science. Hutton looked past the biblical story of how the earth was made and was able to separate science from religion at a time when it was unheard of. Though he began studying medicine he later realized that his true passion was in that of the earth's surface and from there changed the world of science forever.
James Hutton was born June 3. 1726 in Edinburgh. Scotland. While growing up he gained a love for science inquiry in school and later decided to study medicine. He began his studies in Edinburgh and then later finished his degree in Paris. After getting his degree he decided to move to Leiden but then discovered there were no openings in that field. So he then decided to move to Berwichshire where he had inherited land from his father and began working \\ith agriculture. Hutton soon became very interested in the surface of the earth and began investigating its origin. He then later died in 1797 after writing many significant books and papers on his findings.
When Hutton realized he had an interest in the earth's surface and the science of it, there wasn’t yet a study to establish and define it which is why be is seen as one of the first geologists. Hutton wasn't content with staying in between the lines, such as studying and solve the unanswered questions of how the earth was formed.
Hutton later on created his own theory of how the earth worked. He believed that the rocks presents on earth were formed from waste of older rocks. He believed that all materials on earth started in the sea under a lot of pressure and then ultimately were thirsted and forced in to the cracks and openings in the strata. He then theorized that once these materials, land, hit the atmosphere it begins decaying until all the materials have decayed and they are back at the bottom of the sea, and from there on the cycle continues as if the earth is recycling itself. Hutton ended up writing Theory of Earth, which today is a very well known and highly esteemed book.
Hutton also wrote a book called Theory of Rain, which covered his second interest, the atmosphere. He believed that the amount of moisture the air could hold increased with the change in temperature and that when two different air masses with two different temperatures met, the water would then condense and become visible, forming rain. Hutton also studied nature of matter, fluidity, cohesion, light, heat, electricity, and metaphysics.
Since geology had not been established as a credited science. Hutton lacked a lot of deserved attention. During his life time there was a popular scientist named Abraham Gottlob Werner who created the Neptunist theory that all rocks had been precipitated from one huge flood in which Hutton did not agree. Hutton also disagreed with the Biblical reasoning behind the creation of the earth which was another element added to his unpopularity.
Though James Hutton was not credited with the discovery of a new science in his time, today he is respected as one of the first people to confront issues of geology. Hutton spent his life researching and documenting his theories which have sparked many more discoveries and given much more insight on our present world. Though he is no longer alive, his work continues to this day.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
James Hutton relates to "Servants of the Map" through the title of the short story "Theories of Rain" and also through through the character of James in the story. It is ironic that the short story is titled "Theories of Rain" because Hutton wrote a book about his beliefs on the origin of rain and titled it "Theory of Rain." It is also ironic that Lavinia's love interests name is James who in reality is the author of "Theory of Rain." Another similarity of James Hutton and "Theories of Rain" is that the character James, lived on a plat of land inherited by his grandfather, while James Hutton lived on a plot of land that was inherited from his father.
James Hutton is also relevant to "Servant of the Map" because on page 118 Lavinia reads about "falling stones", that in reality are really falling meteores, but the book that she is reading says the stones came from the heavens and that it is as impossible to know the origin of the "falling stones" as it is to know the origin of falling rain. This is interesting because Hutton wrote two books; one explaing the origin of rocks and the earth titled "Theory of Earth,the other explaing how rain is formed titled "Theory of Rain."
Post a Comment