Perhaps you are referring to "uniformitarianism".
The concept of gradualism. Also called uniformtarianism.
Darwin's theory of common descent states that all organisms evolved from past organisms.
theory
A hypothesis is a guess in what you think it is a theory is a fact and someone already proved it in the past.
Uniformitarianism is the theory that the same geological processes we see happening today have been shaping the Earth's surface over millions of years. This idea, popularized by geologist Charles Lyell in the 19th century, suggests that the present is the key to the past when studying Earth's history. By examining current processes, scientists can better understand how landscapes, rock formations, and fossils were formed in the past.
The principle of uniformitarianism states that geologic processes that occur today are similar to those that have occurred in the past.
The processes that are occurring in the present are the same processes that occurred in the past.
Uniformitarianism: a principle stating that earths processes occurring today are similar to those that occur in the past
This odd-sounding dictum is a summary of Scottish geologist Charles Lyell's idea of uniformatarianism, the idea that geologic processes that are currently occurring are the same processes that occurred in the past. In short, the historical and observable geologic events that are occurring are the 'key' to unlocking the history of the geologic events that have occurred and were recorded in the rock record.
The principle of uniformitarianism states that the same geologic processes that operate today have been occurring throughout Earth's history. This suggests that by studying modern geologic processes, we can gain insights into how similar processes shaped the Earth in the past.
Uniformitarianism: a principle stating that earths processes occurring today are similar to those that occur in the past
Uniformitarianism: a principle stating that earths processes occurring today are similar to those that occur in the past
Uniformitarianism (proposed by English geologist Charles Lyell in the 1830s) is the theory that geologic processes that gradually shape Earth are slow and uniform through time. Lyell based his theory on Scottish geologist James Hutton's theory of gradualism, which states that landforms resulted from slow changes over a long time. In other words, uniformitarianism is the belief that natural laws and processes today are essentially the same as they always have been on Earth. "The present is the key to the past."
The main concept behind James Hutton's theory is uniformitarianism, which states that the processes shaping the Earth today are the same processes that operated in the past at a steady and uniform rate. This theory challenged the prevailing beliefs of catastrophism and laid the foundation for modern geology.
"The present is the key to the past" is a fundamental concept in the field of geology called uniformitarianism. It suggests that the same natural processes that occur today have also occurred in the past to shape Earth's surface and geological features. This principle allows geologists to interpret the Earth's history based on observable processes happening in the present.
In the late 1700s, uniformitarianism was coined by James Hutton. Hutton is known as the founder of modern geology. In his book, Theory of Earth, he cast forth the uniformitarianism theory, which is a pillar of geology. It means that the chemical, physical, and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the geological past. Essentially, he said that the processes we see today have been underway for a very long time. He advocated that "the present is the key to the past." Today, we value his theory, but we do not take it as literally as it was once taken in the past.