Geología

praise for

The Man Who Found Time
“This is an informative and revealing book.” —Times Higher Education Supplement “An interesting story, gracefully written and concisely told, that will appeal to readers intrigued by the history of scientific thought.” —Baltimore Sun “Worth reading . . . Repcheck’s description of the Scottish Enlightenment is fascinating.” —Boston Globe “Provides manyfascinating facts and much praiseworthy prose . . . well worth the read.” —Washington Times “A slim volume that’s as readable as it is informative. . . . [Repcheck’s] argument . . . is convincing.” —Providence Journal “Engaging and suspenseful, Repcheck’s excellent biography is highly recommended . . . the most recent and most detailed account of Hutton’s life and science.” —Library Journal StarredReview “Repcheck’s comfortable style and enthusiasm for his subject permeates his book.” —Publisher’s Weekly “Fluidly informative, Repcheck will easily snare readers . . . ” —Booklist

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THE MAN WHO FOUND TIME
James Hutton and the Discovery of the Earth’s Antiquity

Jack Repcheck

A Member of the Perseus Books Group New York

Many of the designationsused by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and where Perseus Publishing was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters. Copyright © 2003 by Jack Repcheck Hardcover first published in 2003 by Perseus Publishing Paperback first published in 2009 by Basic Books, AMember of the Perseus Books Group All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information, address Basic Books, 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810. Printed in theUnited States of America. Library of Congress Control Number: 2003103400 Hardcover ISBN 0-7382-0692-X Paperback ISBN 978-0-465-01337-1 Books published by Basic Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (800) 810-4145, extension 5000, or e-mail special.markets@perseusbooks.com. Set in Bulmer MT by the Perseus Books Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

For Claire and Jack Repcheck, my parents

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Contents

Prologue 1 • Looking So Far Into the Abyss of Time 2 • First Came Adam and Eve, Then Came Cain and Abel .. . 3 • Auld Reekie 4 • The Storm Before the Calm 5 • Youthful Wanderings 6 • The Paradox of the Soil 7 • The Athens of the North 8 • The Eureka Moments 9 • Hutton’s Boswell’s 10 • The Huttonian Revolution Epilogue Appendix Sources and Suggested Readings Acknowledgments Index

1 13 25 45 67 85 103 117 145 163 179 199 209 217 229 235

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Prologue

Heburst the boundaries of time, thereby establishing geology’s most distinctive and transforming contribution to human thought—Deep Time. Stephen Jay Gould, 1977

Before there was science, there was the Bible. For thousands
of years, it supplied reassuring answers to those profound questions that humans have always asked. Who are we? Where are we in relation to everything else in the universe? Andhow and when did we get here, this place we call Earth? The Bible’s teachings about the mysteries of existence were comforting. The Book of Genesis said that an all-knowing, allpowerful God “created the heaven and the earth” on the First Day. Over the next five days, all creatures that walk, crawl, and swim were given life. And God was pleased. Even more soothing were its teachings about us. Man,...