Posted on 07/08/2004 12:29:19 AM PDT by LibWhacker
Einstein was Einstein because he entertained the possibility that Velikovsky was right. I have no doubt that Velikovsky was a smarter man than you are, or me for that matter. I consider "dolts" those who blindly follow the pack and never ask questions...have you ever asked yourself (i know, its hard in your case) *WHY* the most famous scientist in 1953 would even give Velikovsky the time of day? i'll tell you why -- because Velikovsky had the same kind of enquiring mind that Einstein did, and Einstein respected that...
One needs to be very, very careful with how one approaches "science", since scientists are just human beings -- with science, there is a very strong tendancy for anal retentive personalities to engage in the field -- for many, science is admired as a father/authority substitute, the same tendency many had towards supported Adolf Hitler or the tendency to support ANY person or institute in power.
Velikovsky was more of a Weekly World News kind of guy.
Interesting that there are no apparent signs of this.. must be a faith thing..
I don't suppose your vast and Enquiring® mind could entertain the possibility that Einstein would be concerned about a popular best seller going unchallenged. You could, of course, admit that you were wrong about Einstein and velikovsky, but that would require a modicum of honesty.
Velikovsky was a very learned man willing to look at things in a new light, just as did Einstein, who was not the anal retentive type at all, unlike some other defenders of science...
July 8, 1946
> Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky
> 526 West 113 Str.
> New York City
> Dear Mr. Velikovsky:
>
> I have read the whole book about the planet Venus.
> There is much of interest in the book which proves that
> in fact catastrophes have taken place which must be
> attributed to extraterrestrial causes. However it
is
> evident to every sensible physicist that these catast-
> rophes can have nothing to do with the planet Venus and
> that also the direction of the inclination of the
> terrestrial axis towards the ecliptic could not have under-
> gone a considerable change without the total destruction
> of the earth's entire crust. It were best in my opinion
> if you would in this way revise your books, which contain
> truly valuable material. If you cannot decide on this,
> then what is valuable in your deliberations will become
> ineffective, and it would be difficult finding a sensible
> publisher who would take the risk of such a heavy setback
> upon himself.
> I tell you this in writing and return to you your manu-
> script, since I will not be free on the considered days.
>
> With friendly greetings, also to your daughter,
> Your
>
Albert Einstein
Dah
You mistake politeness for credulity. Einstein's letter is a bolw-off, rejecting everything about Velikovsky except for the obvious fact that there have been catastrophes in earth's history. Velikovsky was wrong about the dates, causes and scopes of the catastrophes, but then nobody's perfect.
Velikovsky was one of the first to propose earth changes due to catastrophic astronomical events, something we are all to well aware of now given the increased awareness of ELE events and the dangers inherent to asteroid strikes...and AE gives him credit for that right up front.
The truth of the matter is that Einstein considered Velikovsky a bit of a soul mate:
>Einstein often used the term "moshogoim" in reference to himself AND
>Velikovsky, the intent being not so much the literal one as "outsiders,
>wildmen" and so forth.
As I said, Velikovsky was right about everything except the dates, causes and sizes of his catastrophes. Perhaps he deserves some credit for forcing attention to catastrophes, but he deserves zero credit for scientific analysis.
And you persist in refusing to admit you were rong about the book introduction.
Check your facts first. I never claimed anything about a book introduction...
Bakker?
Science and engineering deals with facts and conclusions based on clear thinking and trained observations, including last, but not least, with the use of clear and unambiguous language.
The asteroid could not have hit Chicxulub, since that is the name given to the crater resulting from the impact.
What kind of scientific morons are they cranking out these days?
High metabolisms. Needed to breathe frequently, therefore needed to surface, therefore needed to transit the boiling hot surface to get to the air, and were unable to shelter in deeper water.
Tunnel dwellers are accustomed to lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide in poorly ventilated burrows...
Letter from Einstein to Velikovsky:
July 8, 1946
Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky
526 West 113 Str.
New York City
Dear Mr. Velikovsky:
I have read the whole book about the planet Venus. There is much of interest in the book which proves that in fact catastrophes have taken place which must be attributed to extraterrestrial causes. However it is evident to every sensible physicist that these catastrophes can have nothing to do with the planet Venus and that also the direction of the inclination of the terrestrial axis towards the ecliptic could not have undergone a considerable change without the total destruction of the earth's entire crust. It were best in my opinion if you would in this way revise your books, which contain truly valuable material. If you cannot decide on this, then what is valuable in your deliberations will become ineffective, and it would be difficult finding a sensible publisher who would take the risk of such a heavy setback upon himself.
I tell you this in writing and return to you your manuscript, since I will not be free on the considered days.
With friendly greetings, also to your daughter,
Your
Albert Einstein
Should be "I apologise". My wireless keyboard needed new batteries. It has been skipping characters.
FGS
You are wrong. See T. Rex and the Crater of Doom. The clearest evidence of an abrupt extinction is the abrupt and total change in the foramintifera.
Like that's never happened to any of us.
Glad you can laugh about if after a bit of sleep...
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