Geological reasoning: Geology as an interpretive and historical science

Research Article| August 01, 1995 Geological reasoning: Geology as an interpretive and historical science Robert Frodeman Robert Frodeman 1Department of Geological Sciences and Department of Philosophy, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80301 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Robert Frodeman 1Department of Geological Sciences and Department of Philosophy, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80301 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1995) 107 (8): 960–968. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1995)1072.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Robert Frodeman; Geological reasoning: Geology as an interpretive and historical science. GSA Bulletin 1995;; 107 (8): 960–968. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1995)1072.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The standard account of the reasoning process within geology views it as lacking a distinctive methodology of its own. Rather, geology is described as a derivative science, relying on the logical techniques exemplified by physics. I argue that this account is inadequate and skews our understanding of both geology and the scientific process in general. Far from simply taking up and applying the logical techniques of physics, geological reasoning has developed its own distinctive set of logical procedures.I begin with a review of contemporary philosophy of science as it relates to geology. I then discuss the two distinctive features of geological reasoning, which are its nature as (1) an interpretive and (2) a historical science. I conclude that geological reasoning offers us the best model of the type of reasoning necessary for confronting the type of problems we are likely to face in the 21st century. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.