Buffon's Natural History, Volume 02 (of 10): Containing a Theory of the Earth, a General History of Man, of the Brute Creation, and of Vegetables, Mineral, &c. &c

In Short

This volume serves as a foundational treatise on the physical and biological sciences of the eighteenth century. It bridges the gap between geology and biology, proposing that the earth is not a static object but a dynamic, evolving system constantly reshaped by water, wind, and seismic activity. By linking the mechanics of the planet to the reproductive habits of animals and plants, it attempts a unified theory of nature. The work remains significant for its early, courageous rejection of purely theological explanations in favor of observation, classification, and empirical inquiry.

The Story

The narrative begins with a broad survey of the physical globe. The ocean is presented as the primary agent of change, a restless force that carves out bays, straits, and Mediterranean basins. The text meticulously tracks how water, in its constant flux and reflux, beats against the continents, grinding down rock into sand and depositing shells in horizontal strata. These layers, once submerged, eventually rise to form hills and mountains, revealing that the solid land beneath our feet was once the floor of an ancient sea.

From the macrocosm of the earth’s crust, the focus shifts to the atmosphere. The book details the predictable trade winds driven by the sun’s heat and the violent, irregular tempests caused by geographical obstructions. The landscape is not merely earth and water; it is a complex machine of volcanic eruptions, shifting tectonic plates, and deep fissures that allow the planet to breathe and rearrange its internal geography. By examining specific historical events—such as the emergence of new islands in the Azores or the cataclysmic earthquakes in Italy—the text argues that the earth is in a perpetual state of transformation.

Having established the physical environment, the work transitions to the "History of Animals." Here, the scope narrows from the planetary to the individual. The argument posits that all organized bodies—whether mineral, vegetable, or animal—obey fundamental laws of matter. However, life introduces the profound complexities of nutrition, growth, and reproduction. The author moves through a critical review of existing scientific theories, dismantling the notion of "pre-existence" (where every seed contains an infinite series of future generations) in favor of a more localized, materialist understanding of life.

The arc concludes with an exploration of generation. By comparing the seminal fluids of animals to the reproductive mechanics of trees, the text seeks a universal principle of development. The argument culminates in a rigorous critique of classical thinkers like Aristotle and Harvey. The author dismisses their reliance on "form and matter" as insufficient, advocating instead for a perspective rooted in the accumulation and organization of organic molecules. The book ends not with a finished, static picture of the world, but with the assertion that life and land are inextricably linked through these ongoing, invisible processes of material composition and rearrangement.

How It Unfolds

The geography of water The analysis opens by mapping the oceans and inland seas, illustrating how constant movement and evaporation dictate the shape of coastlines. It emphasizes that the current state of our seas is merely one moment in a long history of expansion and retreat.

The mechanics of the atmosphere Next, the focus moves to the winds and storms, distinguishing between the regular trade winds and the chaotic influence of mountains and thermal shifts. This section highlights how even the air is a fluid, subject to predictable but complex physical pressures.

The internal fire of the earth The text then investigates volcanos and earthquakes, viewing them as violent but necessary mechanisms of planetary change. It provides detailed accounts of land rising from the sea and mountains splitting open, framing these as evidence of an earth that remains very much alive.

The organic comparison Shifting to biology, the narrative compares the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms. It challenges the reader to define the boundaries of life, questioning whether "sensation" or "motion" are truly sufficient criteria to separate these classes of existence.

The mystery of generation Finally, the book dissects how life perpetuates itself. It rejects the idea of infinite "germs" in favor of a theory where nourishment and organic particles allow for growth and reproduction, concluding with a skeptical look at the philosophical systems of the past.

The People

The book is less a story of individuals than a debate between schools of thought. The Author serves as the primary narrator, a voice of skeptical rationalism who treats ancient authorities with profound caution. He is not interested in mystical origins but in the tangible evidence provided by fossils, shell-beds, and the physical properties of water.

Aristotle and Harvey appear as the intellectual foils to the author’s modern method. While he respects them as observers, he is impatient with their reliance on "final causes" and abstract philosophical principles. He wants to know how a seed grows, not why it fits into a pre-ordained hierarchy of nature.

Czar Peter I is mentioned as an agent of empirical progress, specifically for his efforts to map the Caspian Sea and dispel the myths of older, inaccurate geographers. Similarly, explorers like D. Jean are cited for their hands-on investigations of the Red Sea, proving that its color is a matter of light and mineral reflection rather than divine or supernatural causes. These figures represent the shift toward the "naturalist" ideal: someone who goes out into the world, moors a float, and checks the color of the stones for themselves, rather than relying on legend.

In Its Own Voice

"The ocean surrounds the earth on all sides, and penetrates into the interior parts of different countries, often by large openings, and frequently by small straits; it forms mediterranean seas, some of which participate of its motions of flux and reflux, and others seem to have nothing in common with it except the continuity of water."

The author introduces his theory that the seas are the primary, active shapers of the earth’s surface.

"In an animal all the powers of nature are united; the properties by which it is animated are peculiar to it; by its senses it can will, act, determine, and communicate with the most distant objects: its body is a centre, to which every thing is connected; a point where the whole universe is reflected; a world in miniature."

This passage defines the animal as a unique entity, distinct from the inert mineral world.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this is a book about the unity of matter. The author argues that the same laws of motion, filtration, and accumulation that create a mountain range or a layer of limestone also govern the development of a tree or a human being. It asks: If the earth is in constant flux, how can we understand our place within it? It rejects the idea of a static creation, suggesting that nature is a work in progress. The underlying tension is between the desire for a grand, universal law and the messy reality of a world that is constantly being erased and rewritten by the sea.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the history of science will find this volume deeply rewarding. It captures a pivotal moment when the world was expanding through exploration, yet scientific thought was still shedding the constraints of older, dogma-heavy traditions. The prose is elegant and measured, possessing a calm, authoritative cadence that is rare in modern writing.

However, the reader must be prepared for the pace of the eighteenth century. The book does not offer quick answers or sensationalist conclusions; it requires patience to follow the author through detailed descriptions of geological strata or the nuances of seminal fluids. Furthermore, the modern reader may find the period attitudes—such as the clinical, almost detached categorization of living beings—to be a stark contrast to contemporary sensibilities. You will encounter terminology that has long been replaced by modern biology and geology. Yet, there is something remarkably persistent about the author’s curiosity. To read this is to witness the birth of a modern worldview, where the "truth" is not something found in ancient texts, but something to be measured, observed, and tested in the field. It is a slow, thoughtful experience that leaves you looking at a simple shoreline or a garden plant with a renewed sense of their hidden, complex history.