Biological Anthropology Exam 1 Practice

The idea being tested is how scientists explained fossil evidence: whether life changes gradually over time or mainly through abrupt, catastrophic events. Georges Cuvier defended catastrophism, arguing that Earth's history is marked by sudden, violent events that cause mass extinctions, followed by the appearance of new life after each catastrophe. He believed species themselves are fixed and do not transform into others, so the fossil record shows distinct, unrelated forms that disappear and are replaced rather than gradually evolving. This stance contrasts with evolutionary change through slow, continuous processes, which is why he opposed evolution despite the fossil discoveries. While others in the era debated the age of the Earth or gradual change, Cuvier’s view specifically links fossil findings to episodic catastrophes rather than to gradual transformation.