Plate Tectonics Yet Again

[From Bruce Gregory 9981029.1015 EDT)]

"Wegener was not the first to propose large-scale 'displacement' of the
continents. His version of Drift was rejected in his lifetime. Those few who
did take his theory seriously in the two decades after his death were often
critical of his presentation and accepted not his version but one of several
modifications. His career was not distinguished. He was not a recognized
authority in the then-central specialties in geology. His modest reputation
was grounded in meteorology, palaeoclimatology, and polar exploration. He
did not hold a prestigious chair at a major university, attract throngs of
admiring students, or win significant prizes or awards. Were we to be
writing a history of modern geology, in 1950 or even in 1960 Wegener would
receive no more than a footnote. No extracts from his writings would be
included among the classic papers in the discipline... Yet, today if we were
to tell the story of the modern revolution in terms of heroes and villains,
Wegener would figure as a heroic but neglected genius."

H.E. Le Grand

_Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories_

Wegener

did not hold a prestigious chair at a major university, attract throngs of
admiring students, or win significant prizes or awards. Were we to be
writing a history of modern geology, in 1950 or even in 1960 Wegener would
receive no more than a footnote.

Yet, today if we were
to tell the story of the modern revolution in terms of heroes and villains,

Wegener would figure as a heroic but neglected genius."

     That is the irony of the History of Science. It reminds one also of
Gregor Mendel as well.
                              Howard

Howard R Olson, MA
Director
Therian Paleobiogeography Institute
http://www.freeyellow.com/members3/hrolson/page3.html