The Rejection of Continental Drift: Theory and Method in American Earth ScienceIn the early twentieth century, American earth scientists were united in their opposition to the new--and highly radical--notion of continental drift, even going so far as to label the theory "unscientific." Some fifty years later, however, continental drift was heralded as a major scientific breakthrough and today it is accepted as scientific fact. Why did American geologists reject so adamantly an idea that is now considered a cornerstone of the discipline? And why were their European colleagues receptive to it so much earlier? This book, based on extensive archival research on three continents, provides important new answers while giving the first detailed account of the American geological community in the first half of the century. Challenging previous historical work on this episode, Naomi Oreskes shows that continental drift was not rejected for the lack of a causal mechanism, but because it seemed to conflict with the basic standards of practice in American geology. This account provides a compelling look at how scientific ideas are made and unmade. |
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accepted Africa American anomalies appeared areas argued argument Barrell basalt basins became Bowie cause century Chamberlin colleagues compensation compression concluded considered continental drift continents contraction convection crust crustal currents Daly depth developed direct discussed early earth effect evidence example existence experience explain facts field figure Fisher flow forces geodetic geological geologists geophysical Gilbert gravity Hayford heat Hess Holmes hypothesis idea important interpretation isostasy isostatic John Joly knowledge land later mass material means measurements mechanism method mountain moved nature noted observed occurred ocean origin perhaps period physical plate position possible practice Pratt present problem processes proposed published question reason recent regions rejected rocks Schuchert scientific scientists sediments seemed Society South structure substrate suggested surface Survey tectonics theoretical theory tion Toit United University Vening Wegener widely Willis Wright wrote
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Page 13 - The effects must themselves teach us the nature and intensity of the causes which have operated ; and we are in danger of error, if we seek for slow and shun violent agencies further than the facts naturally direct us, no less than if we were parsimonious of time and prodigal of violence.