Brno, Czech Republic

Geology

Geologie

Master's
Language: CzechStudies in Czech
Subject area: physical science, environment
Years of study: 2
University website: www.muni.cz/
Geology
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ, gē, i.e. "earth" and -λoγία, -logia, i.e. "study of, discourse") is an earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Geology can also refer to the study of the solid features of any terrestrial planet or natural satellite, (such as Mars or the Moon).
Geology
Geology may be defined to be that branch of natural history which investigates the successive changes that have taken place in the organic and inorganic kingdoms of nature. It is a science founded on exact observation and careful induction; it may termed the physical history of our globe; it investigates the structure of the planet on which we live and explains the character and causes of the various changes in the organic and inorganic kingdoms of nature.
William Humble in: Dictionary of geology and mineralogy: comprising such terms in botany., H. Washbourne, 1843, p. 104.
Geology
I always love geology. In winter, particularly, it is pleasant to listen to theories about the great mountains one visited in the summer; or about the Flood or volcanoes; about great catastrophes or about blisters; above all about fossils … Everywhere there are hypotheses, but nowhere truths; many workmen, but no experts; priests, but no God. In these circumstances each man can bring his hypothesis like a candle to a burning altar, and on seeing his candle lit declare ‘Smoke for smoke, sir, mine is better than yours’. It is precisely for this reason that I love geology.
Rodolphe Töpffer in Nouvelles Genevoises (1910), 306. First edition, 1841.
Geology
In collecting the primary geologic data, some personal capacities of the geologist (such as strong physique, perceptive faculties, perseverance, talent for drawing) are generally of much greater importance than in any of the sister sciences, which can rely on the quality of the instruments used in collecting primary data… Hans Cloos (1949) called this way of interrogation [by geologists] "the dialogue with the earth," "das Gespraich mit der Erde."
In: p. 456.
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