Which scientist is associated with the concept of catastrophism?

The correct association of catastrophism with Georges Cuvier is rooted in his pioneering work in paleontology and his contributions to the understanding of Earth's geological history. Catastrophism is the idea that the Earth's landscape has been shaped by a series of sudden, short-lived, and often violent events, such as natural disasters like floods and volcanic eruptions, leading to abrupt changes in the environment and subsequent species extinctions.

Cuvier's research revealed that fossils found in different geological strata indicated that species did not evolve gradually, as previously thought, but rather appeared and disappeared in correlation with these catastrophic events. He introduced the concept of extinction and emphasized the role of catastrophic forces in shaping the biological history of the Earth. This contrasted with ideas of gradualism, and his conclusions laid the groundwork for later evolutionary theories.

Other scientists mentioned in the choices, such as Lamarck and Linnaeus, contributed significantly to biology and taxonomy but did not focus on the concept of catastrophism. Lamarck is known for his theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Linnaeus is celebrated for developing a classification system for living organisms. Georges-Louis Leclerc, also known as Buffon, contributed to natural history and ideas about species change but did not specifically advocate for catastroph