Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
NOTE G - On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Title in the Series
- CHAPTER I Nature of the Argument
- CHAPTER II Argument in favour of Design from the changing of Laws in Natural Events
- CHAPTER III Argument to show that the Doctrines in the preceding Chapter do not lead to Fatalism
- CHAPTER IV On the Account of the Creation, in the First Chapter of Genesis
- CHAPTER V Further View of the same Subject
- CHAPTER VI Of the Desire of Immortality
- CHAPTER VII On Time
- CHAPTER VIII Argument from Laws intermitting—on the Nature of Miracles
- CHAPTER IX On the permanent Impression of our Words and Actions on the Globe we inhabit
- CHAPTER X On Hume's Argument against Miracles
- CHAPTER XI À priori Argument in favour of the Occurrence of Miracles
- CHAPTER XII Thoughts on the Nature of Future Punishments
- CHAPTER XIII Reflections on Free Will
- CHAPTER XIV Thoughts on the Origin of Evil
- CONCLUSION
- APPENDIX
- NOTE A On the great Law which regulates Matter
- NOTE B On the Calculating Engine
- NOTE C Extract from the Theory of Probabilities of La Place
- NOTE D Note to Chap. VIII. on Miracles
- NOTE E Note to Chap. X. on Hume's Argument against Miracles
- NOTE F On the Consequences of Central Heat
- NOTE G On the Action of Existing Causes in producing Elevations and Subsidences in Portions of the Earth's Surface
- NOTE H Tables showing the Expansion of Beds of Granite variously heated
- NOTE I Extracts from Letters of Sir John Herschel
- NOTE K On the Elevation of Beaches by Tides
- NOTE L On Ripple Mark
- NOTE M On the Age of Strata, as inferred from the Rings of Trees embedded in them
- NOTE N On a Method of multiplying Illustrations from Wood-Cuts
- CORRECTIONS
Summary
The following explanation of the origin of many of the changes at present going on on the earth's surface, was suggested in endeavouring to account for the very singular phenomena presented by the temple of Jupiter Serapis, at Puzzuoli, near Naples. The facts relating to that temple were stated in a paper presented to the Geological Society of London, in March, 1834; an abstract of which was published shortly after.
The following positions are taken as the basis of the reasoning on this subject:—
That, as we descend below the surface of the earth, the temperature increases.
That solid rocks expand by being heated; but that clay, and some other substances, contract under the same circumstances.
That different rocks and strata conduct heat differently.
That the earth radiates heat differently, at different parts of its surface, according as it is covered with forests, with mountains, with deserts, or with water.
That existing atmospheric agents, and other causes, are constantly changing the condition of the surface of the globe.
The only one of these propositions on which, in the present state of knowledge, the slightest question can be raised, is the first. But the observations on which it depends have latterly become so numerous, that the general fact of an increase of temperature, on descending into the crust of the earth, can scarcely be questioned; although the exact law of this increase, and the extent to which it penetrates, are yet undecided.
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- The Ninth Bridgewater Treatise , pp. 187 - 197Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1837