Georges Cuvier, Fossil Bones, and Geological Catastrophes : New Translations and Interpretations of the Primary Texts

French zoologist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) helped form and bring credibility to geology and paleontology. Here Martin J. S. Rudwick provides the first modern translation of Cuvier's essential writings on fossils and catastrophes and links these translated texts together with his own insightful narrative and interpretive commentary. "Martin Rudwick has done English-speaking science a considerable service by translating and commenting on Cuvier's work. . . . He guides us through Cuvier's most important writings, especially those which demonstrate his new technique of comparative anatomy."—Douglas Palmer, __New Scientist__ In This Volume, Martin J.s. Rudwick Provides The First Modern Translation Of Cuvier's Essential Writings On Fossils And Catastrophes. Some Of These Writings Have Never Appeared Before In English, And Two Pieces Have Never Been Published In Any Language. Rudwick Links These Translated Texts Together With His Own Insightful Narrative And Interpretive Commentary, Placing Cuvier's Work In Its Biographical, Scientific, And Social Context. A Major Feature Of This Book Is A New Translation Of Cuvier's Most Famous Work, The Preliminary Discourse (1812). Frequently Reprinted And Translated, This Essay Became A Key Document In Nineteenth-century Debates About Evolutionary Theory And Is Still Used As Source Material By Many English-speaking Historians. But The Original English Translation Was Poor, And Its Editorial Slant Made Cuvier Appear, Quite Incorrectly, To Champion A Literal Interpretation Of Genesis. Paleontologists, Geologists, And Historians Of Science, Among Others, Will Welcome These New Translations And New Insights Into Cuvier's Outstanding Contributions To The Earth And Life Sciences. 1: The Theory Of The Earth -- 2: Living And Fossil Elephants -- 3: The Megatherium From South America -- 4: A Research Program On Fossil Bones -- 5: An Appeal For International Collaboration -- 6: The Animals From The Gypsum Beds Around Paris -- 7: A Pouched Marsupial From Paris -- 8: Popular Lectures On Geology -- 9: A Review Of Fossil Pachyderms -- 10: A Report On Andre's Theory Of The Earth -- 11: The Progress Of Geological Science -- 12: The Geology Of The Region Around Paris -- 13: Fossil Deer And Cattle -- 14: Collected Researches On Fossil Bones -- 15: The Revolutions Of The Globe -- 16: Conclusions -- Further Reading -- Bibliography Of Cuvier's Sources -- Bibliography Of Works By Historians Of Science -- App: French Texts Of Previously Unpublished Manuscripts. Martin J.s. Rudwick. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Georges Cuvier, Fossil Bones, and Geological Catastrophes CONTENTS Preface and Acknowledgments Notes on the Texts 1. The Theory of the Earth 2. Living and Fossil Elephants 3. The Megatherium from South America 4. A Research Program on Fossil Bones 5. An Appeal for International Collaboration 6. The Animals from the Gypsum Beds around Paris 7. A Pouched Marsupial from Paris 8. Popular Lectures on Geology 9. A Review of Fossil Pachyderms 10. A Report on André's Theory of the Earth 11. The Progress of Geological Science 12. The Geology of the Region around Paris 13. Fossil Deer and Cattle 14. Collected Researches on Fossil Bones 15. The Revolutions of the Globe 16. Conclusions Further Reading Bibliography of Cuvier's Sources Bibliography of Works by Historians of Science Appendix: French Texts of Previously Unpublished Manuscripts Sources for Figures Index French zoologist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) helped form and bring credibility to geology and paleontology. Here Martin J.S. Rudwick provides the first modern translation of Cuvier's essential writings on fossils and catastrophes and links these translated texts together with his own insightful narrative and interpretive commentary. "Martin Rudwick has done English-speaking science a considerable service by translating and commenting on Cuvier's work. ... He guides us through Cuvier's most important writings, especially those which demonstrate his new technique of comparative anatomy. & q French zoologist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) is mostly remembered as being on the losing side of two great scientific debates, evolution and catastrophism. But his careful research on fossils helped give credibility to geology and paleontology. This volume translates Cuvier's essential writings on fossils and catastrophes, enabling readers to better assess Cuvier's importance to science. 25 photos. Georges Cuvier was born in 1769 in the town of Montbeliard, which was at that time the center of a small French-speaking Protestant territory belonging to the duchy of Wurttemberg.