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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hutton observes that geological time has no clear start or finish.
In plain terms
The Earth has no visible beginning or end.
What can you take from it?
Geological time is deep and continuous.

Where it applies

  • earth science
  • philosophy

Putting it to work

  • study geology

Questions to consider

  • How does deep time change how we see the Earth?

Another view

Modern science finds a beginning (Big Bang), though not visible in rocks.

More from James Hutton

  1. The past history of our globe must be explained by what can be seen to be happening now. No powers are to be employed that are not natural to the globe, no act…

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  2. What more can we require? Nothing but time.

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  3. If an organised body is not in the situation and circumstances best adapted to its sustenance and propagation, then, in conceiving an indefinite variety among …

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