Lyellian Principles

Lyellian Principles, rooted in the work of geologist Charles Lyell, emphasize that the Earth’s geological features are primarily shaped by processes we observe today, like erosion and sedimentation. This idea supports the concept of uniformitarianism, meaning "the present is the key to the past." Essentially, by studying current natural processes, we can infer how past geological events occurred over millions of years. Lyell’s work challenged the then-dominant view of catastrophism, which attributed changes to sudden, dramatic events. His principles laid the groundwork for modern geology by promoting a consistent, observable approach to understanding Earth's history.