katastroofist

Katastroofist is a term used to describe a proponent of catastrophism—the view that the Earth's geological and biological history has been shaped primarily by sudden, dramatic events rather than by slow, incremental processes. Catastrophists argue that short-lived phenomena such as major floods, volcanic eruptions, rapid sedimentation, and meteorite impacts can produce large-scale changes in relatively brief timescales, including the formation of rock layers and mass extinctions.

In the history of science, catastrophism stood in contrast to uniformitarianism, which holds that the present is the key to the past and that the same slow processes observed today have operated throughout Earth’s history. A prominent figure associated with catastrophism is Georges Cuvier, who argued that the fossil record reveals successive catastrophes that destroyed life then were followed by recolonizations. Over time, scientists adopted a synthesis that recognizes catastrophic events as part of Earth’s history while also acknowledging long-term, gradual processes.

Today, the term catastrophist is mainly used in historical discussions of geology and paleontology. It can also appear in broader analyses that emphasize the role of dramatic, disruptive events in shaping landscapes and ecosystems. While strict catastrophism is no longer the prevailing paradigm in modern geology, the recognition of punctuated episodes—such as mass extinctions and asteroid impacts—reflects its influence on scientific thinking.