The concept of Earth being shaped by geological forces over millions of years was not proposed by a single person. Instead, it was developed over centuries by many scientists and thinkers. However, a few key figures played crucial roles in this development:

* James Hutton (1726-1797): Often considered the "father of modern geology", Hutton proposed the idea of uniformitarianism. This principle states that geological processes happening today are the same ones that have shaped the Earth throughout its history. Hutton observed rock formations and argued that they were formed by gradual processes over immense periods of time.

* Charles Lyell (1797-1875): Lyell expanded on Hutton's work and popularized uniformitarianism with his influential book "Principles of Geology". He demonstrated how geological forces, like erosion and volcanic activity, could slowly and continuously change the Earth's surface.

* William Smith (1769-1839): Smith, a surveyor and geologist, is credited with establishing the principle of superposition, which states that older rock layers are found below younger ones. This principle helped to establish a timeline for geological events.

These are just a few of the many scientists who contributed to the understanding of Earth's history and the role of geological forces. The idea of Earth being shaped by these forces over millions of years is a culmination of centuries of scientific observation, analysis, and debate.