An outstanding scientist, a great book and an infernal title

Şengör A. M. C.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES, vol.110, no.2, pp.759-765, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 110 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s00531-021-01989-y
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Geobase, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.759-765
  • Keywords: Evolution, Discovery of novelties in paleontology, Vertebrate paleontology, Walter Georg K&#252, hne
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The great German paleontologist Walter Georg Kuhne (1911-1991) published a book in 1979 with the Title Palaontologie und dialektischer Materialismus (Palaeontology and Dialectic Materialism). This inapposite title is very far from reflecting the contents of the book that includes a superb analysis of how to perform research in palaeontology and describes ways to making new discoveries. Most likely because of its title the book remains little read. It should however be read especially by those aspiring to do research in the earth sciences. One could read it without much loss by skipping the Marxist tirades that make up only a very small percentage of the text of a 131 page-long book anyway. An English translation would be particularly valuable.