But it would be tiresome to follow these conditions around the world. We
have plenty of examples, and we have them described by the foremost of
living geologists. What we need to do now is to adopt a true scientific
attitude of mind, a mind freed from the hypnotizing influence of the
current theories, in order correctly to interpret the facts as we
already have them.

_How much of the earth's crust would we have to find_ in this upside
down order of the fossils, before we would be convinced that there must
be something hopelessly wrong with this theory of Successive Ages which
drives otherwise competent observers to throw away their common sense
and cling desperately to a fantastic theory in the very teeth of such
facts?

The science of geology as commonly taught is truly in a most astonishing
condition, and doubtless presents the most peculiar mixture of fact and
nonsense to be found in the whole range of our modern knowledge. In any
minute study of a particular set of rocks in a definite locality,
geology always follows facts and common sense; while in any general view
of the world as a whole, or in any correlation of the rocks of one
region with those of another region, it follows its absurd, unscientific
theories. But wherever it agrees with facts and common sense, it
contradicts these absurd theories; and wherever it agrees with these
theories, it contradicts facts and common sense. That most educated
people still believe its main thesis of _a definite age for each
particular kind of fossil_ is a sad but instructive example of the
effects of mental inertia.


IV