Final answer:
Georges Cuvier proposed catastrophism to explain extinction and Earth's geological landscape, suggesting that natural disasters caused the death of species. While no longer accepted, Cuvier's idea of extinction remains influential in evolutionary thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catastrophism is a theory proposed by Georges Cuvier in the 19th century to explain the extinction of species and Earth's geological landscape. It suggests that natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, were responsible for killing all the animals in certain areas at certain times. Cuvier believed that either new animals were created or neighboring areas repopulated the affected areas. While catastrophism is no longer considered a viable theory, Cuvier's idea of extinction remains important in evolutionary thinking today.