Rejection of Continental Drift
“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.” — Clarke's First Law
The Rejection of Continental Drift examines the early 20th century reaction and rejection of Continental Drift by American Scientists. Excellent detail and discussion of the late 19th and early 20th century Geologists, their science, and philosophy. The book traces development in American thought—avoid grand theories, gather data, consider multiple hypothesis—from the earlier Vulcanist-Neptunist row, how the mathematically convenient Pratt isostasy model quickly became canon, and the endless debates where the two sides accepted only what their model supported, and ignored or explained away evidence to the contrary. Defenders of continental drift even resorted to the phrase “E pur si muove” as their arguments were rejected!