Velikovskyism

Term referring to the work of Immanuel Velikovsky

Velikovskyism (also Velikovskianism) is a term that refers to the theories, beliefs and doctrines of Immanuel Velikovsky.

Use of the term Velikovskyism

By Isaac Asimov

In an interview with James Gunn, Isaac Asimov recalls a letter to Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University, Robert W. Bass:[1]Also quoted as follows: “When Velikovsky is proven correct, I will cheerfully admit I was wrong; and I will also go skating in Hell, which will then have frozen over.” Isaac Asimov (private communication to Robert W. Bass, 23 August 1974). “Guardians of the Boundaries of Science”, Pensée, Vol. 4 No 3: (Summer 1974) “Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered VIII”

“I once received a postcard from someone who said what would you do — this was after an argument about Velikovsky — what would you do if some scientific discovery tomorrow proved that Velikovsky was correct? I replied saying, in that case I would cheerfully accept Velikovskianism and admit I had been wrong. I would also go skating in hell, which by that time will have frozen over.”[2]An Interview with Issac Asimov” by James Gunn, in Isaac Asimov, Carl Freedman, Carl Howard Freedman, Conversations with Isaac Asimov, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2005m ISBN 1578067383, 9781578067381. 170 pages. Page 54.

By anomalist, William R. Corliss

“At the June, 2000, meeting of the Society for Scientific Exploration, R.A. Day presented a paper that .. Identified the earth as the most likely perpetrator of this celestial catastrophism. .. Anomalists with long memories will see immediately that Day’s theory is displaced Velikovskyism.”[3]William R. Corliss, “The Earth Made Mars Different”, Science Frontiers Newletter, No. 131: Sep-Oct 2000

Use of the term Velikovskianism

“.. his story had been given wide currency in the same issue of Harper‘s which introduced Velikovskianism”[4]Duane Vorhees, “‘Worlds in Collision’: Reviews and Reviewers”, Aeon III:6 (Dec 1994)

“VELIKOVSKIANISM” — What it means: the widely rejected scientific views of Immanuel Velikovsky.”[5]Gregory Bergman, Isms: From Autoeroticism to Zoroastrianism — an Irreverent Reference, Published by Adams Media, 2006. ISBN 1593374836, 9781593374839, 268 pages. p.251

See also

  • Lowrey, F. Thomas; Greenberg, Lewis M., “Velikovskianism”, Science, Volume 200, Issue 4348, pp. 1336

References

References
1 Also quoted as follows: “When Velikovsky is proven correct, I will cheerfully admit I was wrong; and I will also go skating in Hell, which will then have frozen over.” Isaac Asimov (private communication to Robert W. Bass, 23 August 1974). “Guardians of the Boundaries of Science”, Pensée, Vol. 4 No 3: (Summer 1974) “Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered VIII”
2 An Interview with Issac Asimov” by James Gunn, in Isaac Asimov, Carl Freedman, Carl Howard Freedman, Conversations with Isaac Asimov, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2005m ISBN 1578067383, 9781578067381. 170 pages. Page 54.
3 William R. Corliss, “The Earth Made Mars Different”, Science Frontiers Newletter, No. 131: Sep-Oct 2000
4 Duane Vorhees, “‘Worlds in Collision’: Reviews and Reviewers”, Aeon III:6 (Dec 1994)
5 Gregory Bergman, Isms: From Autoeroticism to Zoroastrianism — an Irreverent Reference, Published by Adams Media, 2006. ISBN 1593374836, 9781593374839, 268 pages. p.251
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