velikovsky
THE VELIKOVSKY AFFAIR. A CASE STUDY IN SCIENTIFIC CENSORSHIP.
Here is a quote from the book The Reversing Earth, by (physicist) Peter Warlow, published by J.M.Dent and Sons Ltd, 1982, pages 14 to 15:- “Immanuel Velikovsky published three books - - - (which) had a remarkable impact - - - as a result of vehement action by a few influential scientists - - - Velikovsky was censored. What he had to say was - - - of considerable importance, and fully merits open discussion. - - - MOST SCIENTISTS DO NOT EVEN DARE TO MENTION HIS NAME - - - QUITE LITERALLY FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS - - - Refusing to allow discussion of Velikovsky - - - is deliberate dishonesty.” (My capitals.)
The next quotes are from the book The Velikovsky Affair. Scientism Versus Science, by Alfred de Grazia et al, published by Sphere Books, 1978.
Pages 13 to 14:- “The Scientific Establishment rose in arms - - - against the new Velikovsky theories - - - Efforts were made to block dissemination - - - and even TO PUNISH SUPPORTERS - - - UNIVERSITIES - - WERE APPROACHED AND THREATENED - - - PROFESSIONAL SANCTIONS WERE INVOLVED - - - the venomous aspects - - - THE CAMPAIGN OF VILIFICATION.” (My capitals.)
Page 17:- Velikovsky’s (book) Worlds in Collision precipitated an academic storm - - - - ATTEMPTS TO SUPPRESS THE WORK BY IMPOSING A BOYCOTT ON ITS FIRST PUBLISHER’S TEXTBOOKS” (My capitals.)
Page 30:- The authors explain what happened to Gordon Attwater, who had written a favourable review of Velikovsky’s Worlds in Collision:- “HE WAS SUMMARILY FIRED from both his position with the museum as - - - Chairman of The Department of Astronomy, AND REQUESTED TO VACATE HIS OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.” (My capitals.)
Page 33:- The authors explain how the publisher Macmillan (who had published Worlds in Collision) were being boycotted by some universities who demanded “cessation of publication”.
Page 52:- “One after another of Velikovsky’s “wild hypotheses” have achieved empirical support. - - - Professor H.H.Hess – Chairman of The Space Board of The National Academy of Science – wrote to Velikovsky – “Some of these predictions - - -were predicted long before proof that they were correct came to hand - - - I do not know of any scientific prediction you made that has since proven to be false.” (My comment:- Apparently, although dogmatic scientists tried to censor Velikovsky, he was proven to be right in the end!)
Page 196:- The establishment moved with speed and vigour to block professional support for Velikovsky’s book, and to boycott its publication.”
Pages 200 to 201:- “The resistance to the astronomical theories of Velikovsky was MOTIVATED BY SHEER IDEOLOGY - - - EVERY WEAPON IS BROUGHT INTO PLAY AGAINST THE NEW IDEA - - - SUPPRESSION - - - - STONY SILENCE - - - - ALL BELIEVERS IN THE STATE OF PRESENT KNOWLEDGE UNITE TO RESIST THE INNOVATOR.” (My capitals.)
Page 74:- “Professor Bruno de Finetti of The Instituto Matematico of The University of Rome - - - expressed the opinion that professionalization - - - in science has become a major obstacle to the continuous renewal so necessary to science”. Professor Finetti claimed that “the defence of such vested interests” - - - may transform “each clan of specialists and the great clan of scientists in general into a sort of despotic and irresponsible mafia”.