George Cuvier (1769-1832) was one of the largest academic authorities of his time.
Coming from an aristocratic family, was attracted by natural history, and his work on anatomy of the shellfish caught the attention of one of the great naturalists of the time, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. By invitation, Cuvier became a professor in the Natural History Museum of Paris, and his talent and wisdom, made him prosper quickly, to the point of becoming one of the most respected scientific personalities and influential of the nineteenth century. At the time that Cuvier was an argument of authority to support an idea.
One of the greatest contributions to history Cuvier science was his principle of organic correlation, whereby the different parts and organs of the bodies have been linked as a whole, so that the structure of one depends on the rest. That is, the shape of an organ is related to the agency and other parties (I beg the reader to retain a time in mind this idea of \u200b\u200borganic correlation, it will serve to better understand the story that is relatively more advanced .) Based on this principle, he managed to rebuild many of the remains of organisms based foiled just a loose debris. This principle was summed up by himself with great pride to the phrase "Give me a bone and I will reconstruct the animal. " Reconstructions that made him a legendary figure.
also established a classification of animals into 4 main types: Vertebrates, Articulates, Mollusks and radiated.
Cuvier gave scientific character to the, already old idea of \u200b\u200bdisasters by introducing the concept of extinction. Cuvier interpreted the history of the Earth in a very particular: for him, the Earth throughout its history had gone through periods where intense processes occurred, which called Revolutions (omitted the use of the word disaster, they had strong supernatural connotations), which would have finished lifestyles of each stage and after each revolution, there would be a new creation of life, thus originating new forms. This is what has been termed catastrophic theory.
He opposed the idea of \u200b\u200bevolution, and held a public showdown with Saint-Hilaire in this regard. The ideas of both on the natural history were diverged over time.
Contrary to what is said many times, Cuvier did not give his catastrophic theory nor transcendent religious meaning.
Although his ideas about evolution have proved wrong, it certainly was a great scientist. Introduced the concept of extinction and revolution, which in some thus still in force in geology at the idea of \u200b\u200bevent stratigraphy. It is considered the father of paleontology as a science and comparative anatomy and, no doubt, was one of the great anatomists of the story. Biology extended to the study of fossil forms and emphasized the relationship between fossils and rocks that appear related. And although he opposed the concept of evolution, developed a set of ideas that constituted an important part of the idea of \u200b\u200bevolution, such as: the idea of \u200b\u200bmigration and dispersal of organisms, the idea that the function determines the shape of the body and the random nature of variation. After
This introduction to the figure of Cuvier, I tell a story circulating about him. It turns out that apparently, Cuvier was happening something that is usual in teachers: not look up the sympathy of his students (and certainly, as with almost all the teachers, probably this feeling of rejection was well deserved).
On one occasion, the students decided to take revenge on the hated teacher. For this planned a joke was that one of them in his bedroom colase the devil in disguise (with tail and horns, and all that), while the rest hidden in the dark, expect to laugh at the miserable eminence.
I am now asking whoever is reading this to ask a question. Put yourself in the shoes of a man of the early nineteenth century. Suppose you have a firm belief. They're in your room, sleeping soundly and suddenly depiertan abruptly, and highlights the dark silhouette of the devil, which is also making threatening movements and sounds, and is aimed at you saying, "I am Satan and I will eat. "Now ask yourself, what would your reaction to all this information?
I imagine that at least frightened.
However, the reaction of the ineffable Cuvier was very different, and far more commendable by noting the "demon" exclaimed "You can not eat me, you've got hooves and horns. The principle of organic correlation tells me you're herbivore. " The reaction of all students was to cheer on his teacher.
sagacity and cunning that showed Cuvier are, at least, commendable. Someone
revealed that critical spirit and that way of thinking, reveals that he is someone who not only exercise science, but has taken and conceived as a way of understanding the world.
Perhaps the story is pure legend, but it highlights something that every citizen interested in science should have: the ability to think critically and know doubt. Substitute the joke and the devil, a story UFO, the stains on the wall of a house, Marian apparitions, ... or even the science news that we often pose in the press (where we often sold with bombastic headlines scientific experiences that are both, or are made with minimal rigor.)
is very important in such cases know how to use the capacity to doubt. Learn to reason, and to distinguish an argument consisting of another inconsistent. And not only if you want to be a good career in science, but also if you want to be a difficult person to deceive (as was the Baron Cuvier).
In this story we can draw a valuable lesson that will help us if we are artists in the fine art of baloney detection.
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