uniformitarianism response request info topic uniformitarianism understand doctrine appears originated geology assumes laws apply various processes originally geological biological also social linguistic time periods thus allowing particular reconstruction various aspects prehistory first read essays stephen j gould favorite theme useful source esp us linguists collection articles language earth ed bernd naumann et al 1992 amsterdam philadelphia john benjamins although many potential readers turned bu fact several important contributions german scholars read index work lists many many references uniformitarianism different chapters although read would think would books charles lyell supposed fathered modern geology would deal topic length alexis manaster ramer