Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds () is a popular science book by French author Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle, published in 1686. It offered an explanation of the heliocentric model of the Universe, suggested by Nicolaus Copernicus in his 1543 work "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium". The book is Fontenelle's most famous work and is considered to be one of the first major works of the Age of Enlightenment. Unlike many scientific works of its time, "Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds" was written not in Latin, but in French and is notable as
Theory of the Earth evidence of the past action of processes which still operate today. He also anticipated natural selection, as follows: Hutton's prose hindered his theories. John Playfair in 1802 restated of Huttton's geological ideas in clearer English. However, he left out Hutton's thoughts on evolution. Charles Lyell in the 1830s popularised the idea of an infinitely repeating cycle (of the erosion of rocks and the building up of sediment). Lyell believed in gradual change, and thought even Hutton gave too much credit to catastrophic changes. Hutton's work was published in different forms and stages: Theory of the Earth Theory of the Earth