2. The Problem of Evil
If God is perfectly loving (omnibenevolent), He
must wish to abolish evil
If He is all powerful (omnipotent), He must be
able to abolish evil
But evil exists
Therefore, an all powerful, loving God does not
exist
9. Nils Stensen (“Steno”)
Preliminary discourse to a dissertation on a solid body
naturally contained within a solid (1669)
Superimposition: Layers of rock are arranged in a time
sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the
youngest on the top, unless later processes disturb this
arrangement.
Original Horizontality: most sediments, when originally
formed, were laid down horizontally.
Original Lateral Continuity: the sediment will not only
be deposited in a flat layer, it will be a layer that
extends for a considerable distance in all directions. In
other words, the layer is laterally continuous.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. James Usher
Annals of the Old
Covenant from the First
Origin of the World (1650)
Creation of the world
on the evening
preceding Sunday, 23rd
October 4004 BCE
6,000 year old versus
4,550,000,000 year old
25. Theory of the Earth
Theory of the Earth, or an Investigation of
the Laws Observable in the Composition,
Dissolution and Restoration of Land upon
the Globe. (1785 / 88 / 95)
The Earth had a long history and that
this history could be interpreted in
terms of processes currently
observed.
“The result, therefore, of this physical
inquiry is, that we find no vestige of a
beginning, no prospect of an end.”
39. William Buckland
1784 - 1856
Reliquiae Diluvianae, 1823
Geology was not inherently
irreligious and confirmed the
occurrence of a global flood.
Miraculous forces were not
required - natural law was
applied
40.
41.
42. "Notice on the Megalosaurus or Great Fossil Lizard of
Stonesfield." (1824)
43. "Notice on the Megalosaurus or Great Fossil Lizard of
Stonesfield." (1824)
61. Charles Lyell
1797 - 1875
Principles of Geology (1830-33)
Elements of Geology (1838)
Geological Evidences of the
Antiquity of Man (1863)
62. “An attempt to explain the
former changes of the
Earth's surface by reference
to causes now in operation”
63.
64.
65. Normative Rules
Basic laws of nature have not
changed over time
No causes other than those we
can see operating now can be
employed in explanations
(actualism)
The intensity of these causes
does not change over time
(uniformitarianism)
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73. Diversity could be explained using a natural
mechanism which was also sufficient to explain
good (and bad) design.
Thus, design was apparent and did not imply a
designer.
Death and extinction are part of the natural
process and “evil” is a meaningless concept
when considering the natural world.
Editor's Notes
Why did forms apparently die-out? Tied with problem of evil?\n
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fossil - anything dug up\n
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Resemblance to teeth - 1667 Nils Stensen (Steno) - were teeth\n
40 foot long shark\n
two years later ... On fossils\n
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Note that this gives *relative* age – not actual – that would come later. No assumption of age. \n\n
Note that this gives *relative* age – not actual – that would come later. No assumption of age. \n\n
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Under the influence of Principia – succeeded Newton as Lucasian prof – also an Arian – expelled in 1710 - Naturalistic - Deistic \n\n
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By 1830’s map of Europe\n
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Member of Scottish Enlightenment – friend of Hume and Adam Smith. \nHutton’s PLUTONISM vs NEPTUNISM\n\n
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Jedburgh 1787 / Siccar Point (1788) Greywacke: 425 myo deep sea deposit (VERTICAL)\nSandstone: 345 myo flooded coastal plain (HORIZONTAL) /\n
Evidence of volcanic rock penetrating through sedimentary as it was being laid down ~350myo\n
natural processes - land rising from sea\n
Megatherium - South America - 1790’s\n
Monsters of the Deep\n
Monsters of the Deep\n
Monsters of the Deep\n
Monsters of the Deep\n
Coast of Dorset / collectors / impoverished -> lead to charity printing\n\n
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1831 Scene from the Jura’s. 1836 Dinotherii\n
1821 - Kirkdale Cave, Yorkshire\n
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Later shifted to the idea of a local flood.\n
Buckland in Oxford - Hyenas - bat urine\n
Drawing by local amateur naturalist, Mary Morland, who would become Mrs Buck. \n
Obgyn - 1822 -\n
quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
M against O that Ig was as we see it today. M carriage accident in 1841, died of opium overdose in 1852. O had spine collected for the Hunterian. Destroyed in 1969. \n\n\n
Mastodon / Giant Irish / Coprolites\n
Mastodon / Giant Irish / Coprolites\n
Comparative method\n
Buckland compared with modern reptiles\n
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“The Present is Key to the Past”\n
1830 reaction to Lyell - De La Beche - lack of progress, cyclical nature, \n
