Immanuel Velikovsky

Immanuel Velikovsky

Immanuel Velikovsky (June 10, 1895 – November 17, 1979) was a Russian-born American independent scholar, best known for his controversial work in comparative mythology and history. Velikovsky is the author of several books, including Worlds in Collision (1950), Ages in Chaos (1952), Earth in Upheaval (1955), and Mankind in Amnesia (1978). His work is frequently cited in discussions of catastrophism and historical revisionism.

Biography

Immanuel Velikovsky was born in Vitebsk, Russia (now in Belarus) to a Jewish family. He received a medical degree from the University of Moscow in 1921. After his immigration to the United States in 1939, Velikovsky dedicated himself to researching and writing on ancient histories and sciences.

Work

Velikovsky's hypotheses, first presented in Worlds in Collision, suggest that catastrophic events involving planetary objects have played a significant role in Earth's history. He proposed that ancient texts and geological evidence indicate such catastrophes. His theories challenge the conventional scientific understanding of geology, astronomy, and history, proposing instead that the Earth had suffered close encounters with other planets (principally Venus and Mars) in ancient times.

Worlds in Collision

In Worlds in Collision, Velikovsky argued that a series of catastrophic events, caused by interactions between the Earth and other planets, were recorded in ancient mythologies and religious texts. According to Velikovsky, these events included the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues of Egypt, and the stopping of the Sun by Joshua. He suggested that these tales were not mythical but historical accounts of actual astronomical and geological disturbances.

Ages in Chaos

Ages in Chaos is Velikovsky's attempt to reconstruct the chronology of ancient history. He argued that the accepted timelines of ancient Egyptian and Israelite history were fundamentally flawed, leading to a misunderstanding of historical events and personages. Velikovsky proposed a revised chronology that aimed to align the histories of these civilizations with the archaeological record and biblical accounts.

Earth in Upheaval

In Earth in Upheaval, Velikovsky presented geological and paleontological evidence to support his claim that the Earth has been subjected to catastrophic events. He argued that these events could not be explained by the slow processes of uniformitarianism, which was the prevailing theory in geology at the time.

Reception

Velikovsky's work has been met with widespread criticism from the scientific community. Critics argue that his theories are not supported by empirical evidence and that he misinterprets both scientific and historical data. Despite this, Velikovsky's books have enjoyed considerable popularity among the general public and have influenced various authors and researchers in the fields of alternative history and pseudoscience.

Legacy

Immanuel Velikovsky's contributions to the fields of history, geology, and astronomy remain controversial. While mainstream science rejects his hypotheses, his work has sparked debate about the role of catastrophism in Earth's history and the interpretation of ancient texts. Velikovsky's legacy is that of a figure who challenged conventional scientific and historical paradigms, regardless of the accuracy of his claims.