Is Uniformitarianism Necessary'?
| Abstract | Uniformitarianism is a dual concept. Substantive uniformitarianism (a testable theory of geologic change postulating uniformity of rates or material conditions) is false and stifiqng to hypothesis formation. Methodological uniformitarianism (a procedural principle asserting spatial and temporal invariance of natural laws) belongs to the definition of science and is not unique to genic~~. Methodological uniformitarianism enabled Lyell to exclude the miraculous from geologic explanation; its invocation today is anachronistic since the question of divine intervention is no longer an issue in science. Substantive uniformitarianism, an incorrect theory, should be abandoned. Methodological uniformitarianism, now a superfiuous term, is best confined to the past history of geology. | |||||||||
| Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Categories | No categories specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,709 |
| External links |
  Try with proxy. |
| Through your library | Only published papers are available at libraries |
Similar books and articlesOwen Anderson (2007). Charles Lyell, Uniformitarianism, and Interpretive Principles. Zygon 42 (2):449-462.
Giovanni Camardi (1999). Charles Lyell and the Uniformity Principle. Biology and Philosophy 14 (4).
Tibor R. Machan (1992). The Right to Privacy Vs. Uniformitarianism. Journal of Social Philosophy 23 (2):75-84.
Joanna Gęgotek (2005). Geologiczne idee Charlesa Lyella i ich źródła. Filozofia Nauki 3.
M. W. Lefor & Roland C. Clement (eds.) (1996). Determinism and Uniformitarianism in Science Vs. Aton Forest: Transcript of the First Aton Forest Forum, October 28, 1995. Aton Forest, Inc..
Yuri Balashov (1994). Uniformitarianism in Cosmology: Background and Philosophical Implications of the Steady-State Theory. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 25 (6):933-958.
Daniel Steel (2006). Methodological Individualism, Explanation, and Invariance. Philosophy of the Social Sciences 36 (4):440-463.
Victor Joseph di Fate (2011). Arguing for Uniformity: Rethinking Lyell's Principles of Geology. Perspectives on Science 19 (2):136-153.
Michael Bradie (2009). What's Wrong with Methodological Naturalism? Human Affairs 19 (2):126 - 137.
Alvin Plantinga (1997). Methodological Naturalism, Part 2. Origins and Design 18 (2):22-34.
T. Shanahan (2001). Methodological and Contextual Factors in the Dawkins/Gould Dispute Over Evolutionary Progress. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C 32 (1):127-151.
Reed Richter (2002). What Science Can and Cannot Say: The Problems with Methodological Naturalism. Reports of the National Center for Science Education 22 (Jan-Apr 2002):18-22.
Gary Hatfield (1988). Science, Certainty, and Descartes. PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1988:249 - 262.
Simon Prosser (2012). Why Does Time Seem to Pass? Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 85 (1):92-116.
Richard W. Miller (1978). Methodological Individualism and Social Explanation. Philosophy of Science 45 (3):387-414.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2010-12-22Total downloads7 ( #133,637 of 550,854 )Recent downloads (6 months)1 ( #63,425 of 550,854 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
