uniformitarian

[ yoo-nuh-fawr-mi-tair-ee-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

supporting, conforming to, or derived from a theory or doctrine about uniformity, especially on the subject of geology.
Geology. of or relating to the thesis that processes that operated in the remote geological past are not different from those observed now.

First recorded in 1830–40; uniformit(y) + -arian

The uniformitarian teaching which Lyell deduced from geological observation had gained acceptance.

This is the uniformitarian view, and is undoubtedly far truer than the catastrophic.

A few, like MacCulloch, undervalued palæontological research, and thus were doubly prejudiced against the uniformitarian views.

And here Lamarck, in spite of his uniformitarian principles, is strongly cataclysmic.

In all this, of course, I am considering the question from the common uniformitarian standpoint.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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