Final answer:
James Hutton recognized the principle of uniformitarianism, which suggests that the Earth's geologic features are shaped by consistent, slow-moving processes over long periods of time, implying an ancient Earth and influencing subsequent geological and evolutionary thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
Through his concept that Earth has been a succession of worlds, James Hutton was among the first to recognize the principle of uniformitarianism. This geological theory proposes that the features of the Earth were shaped in the past by slow-moving processes, such as erosion and sedimentation, which continue to operate in the same manner today. It was a groundbreaking shift from the then-prevailing belief in catastrophism, which stated that the Earth's geological landscape was shaped by sudden, short-lived, catastrophic events.Hutton's observations led to the conclusion that these processes take place over exceedingly long periods, implying that the Earth was much older than previously thought. His ideas challenged widely held beliefs and set the stage for the further development of geological science in the works of Charles Lyell and later influenced Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. By insisting on the consistency of geologic mechanisms over time, Hutton and Lyell extended the timescale for the Earth's history, thus providing a much longer timeframe for biological evolution as well.