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Bauer states "In this house (of knowledge) that astronomers knew so well, there was a door of possible catastrophe that they never noticed. Velikovsky did the most infuriating thing in the world. He, a stranger, walked through this door." The animosities of some scientists ran deep.
Reviewed by Maurice A. Williams
Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy
by Henry H. Bauer
University of Illinois Press, 1999, 354 pages
ISBN: 02520648459, paperbach, $19.95
Henry Bauer's "Beyond Velikovsky" covers a very interesting episode in scientific thought. In the 1950 and 60's, Immanuel Velikovsky wrote three books that forever changed our perception of the Solar System. I remember reading them. They certainly made an impression on me and, apparently, many other people also. Velikovsky, well educated and erudite, but a psychiatrist rather than an astronomer or a geologist, challenged many opinions held by the scientific community. He tried to prove that Venus once had an erratic orbit that caused it to almost collide with Earth. It missed the Earth, but caused catastrophic disturbances. Then it almost collided with Mars, disrupting Mars' orbit and causing Mars to almost collide with Earth, again with catastrophic consequences. Velikovsky appealed directly to the untrained general reader, bypassing the specialists. His opinions about the Solar System's stability differed very much from those that were then accepted. His articulate prose made his books best sellers. However, his methods so offended the specialists that some of them tried to ban publication of his books.
The brash action of those who tried to ban his books shocked many people, especially students preparing for careers in the physical sciences. Later, NASA exploration of the Solar System confirmed some of Velikovsky's opinions. Because of both events, Immanuel Velikovsky gained worldwide fame, a nemesis for those who opposed him, an inspiration for those who believed him.
Henry Bauer, almost fifty years later wrote "Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy." Bauer used quotations, letters, excerpts from articles, and ventured his own opinions. He claimed to be open-minded and fair to Velikovsky, but Bauer made several statements that show even he shares the same bias the scientific community had fifty years earlier. Velikovsky offended scientists, even Bauer, by bypassing the standard procedure of publishing one thesis at a time for the scientific community to evaluate. Standard procedure would have each thesis published separately so the scientific community could critique and add to them point by point. Velikovsky bypassed the scientific community by writing directly to the general reader. In effect, he upstaged the scientific community in their own field. Bauer states "In this house (of knowledge) that astronomers knew so well, there was a door of possible catastrophe that they never noticed. Velikovsky did the most infuriating thing in the world. He, a stranger, walked through this door." The animosities of some scientists ran deep.
I have seen Velikovsky belittled in many scientific books, and yet, many of his claims turned out to be correct. Bauer wrote to set the record straight. Bauer, a professor of chemistry and scientific studies and author of many scientific papers, is well qualified to speak for the scientific community. Although Bauer, himself, is critical of Velikovsky, his book presents a thorough account of the controversy about Velikovsky. The reader can see what was said, what was done, and recognize the still lingering criticism against Velikovsky. Bauer's book is worth reading.
Other books of interest are "Cataclysm!: Compelling Evidence of a Cosmic Catastrophe in 9500 B.C." by Drs. D.S. Allan and J.B. Delair, ISBN: 1879181428 and "Pharaohs and Kings: A Biblical Quest" by David H' Rohl, ISBN: 051770315. Both books are modern reworking of some of the challenges Velikovsky brought up. Not surprisingly, these authors are unsympathetic to Velikovsky.
For more information visit: Velikovsky or visit Cataclysm!: Compelling Evidence of a Cosmic Catastrophe in 9500 B.C. and Pharaohs an Kings: A Biblical Quest.
About the reviewer: Maurice A. Williams is a retired director of Research for a company that does business all over the world. He is an author of technical articles in scientific journals, chapters in technical books, and poems and inspirational articles. He recently published a book: "Revelation and the Fall of Judea."
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