Pensée: Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered ("IVR") was a special series of ten issues of the magazine Pensée advancing the pseudoscientific theories of Immanuel Velikovsky. It was produced to "encourage continuing critical analysis of all questions raised by Velikovsky's work",[1] published between May 1972 and Winter 1974-75 by the Student Academic Freedom Forum, whose president was David N. Talbott, with the assistance and cooperation of Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon. Velikovsky -- "the man whose work was being examined 'objectively'" insinuated himself into the editing of the May 1972 issue,[2] just as he had done earlier for the April 1967 "Velikovsky" issue of Yale Scientific Magazine.[3]
Pensée: Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered Vol.VII (Spring 1974) depicting a parody Immanuel Velikovsky by artist Robert Byrd that appeared in Philadelphia Magazine, April, 1968
It achieved a circulation of between 10,000 - 20,000, with the first issue reprinted twice totalling 75,000 copies,[4] and resulted in a book, Velikovsky Reconsidered[5] containing selected articles, many of them partisan.[6]
In the final issue of Pensée IVR, the publisher recalled that the original magazine was:
Founded in 1966 and soon thereafter allowed to lapse for several years, it was revived in 1970 as an unofficial student magazine distributed on Oregon campuses [..] Late in 1971 the editor and publisher, personally familiar with the work of Immanuel Velikovsky, conceived the idea of finding someone qualified to write a major article describing Velikovsky's theories, their implications, and their reception. Subsequent contact, first, with Velikovsky himself, and then with several persons knowledgeable about his work, led to the May, 1972 issue of Pensée.[7]
Science magazine attributed the then increased support for Velikovsky's ideas, to Pensée.[8]
StaffEdit
The staff consisted of publisher David N. Talbott and his brother Stephen L. Talbott as editor, and built up to five associate editors: Lewis M. Greenberg, Ralph Juergens, William Mullen, C.J. Ransom, and Lynn E. Rose.[9] Professor of Social Theory, Alfred de Grazia noted that:
... there came Pensée, a production of the young Talbott brothers, Stephen and David, whose enthusiasm for his [Velikovsky's] work crystallized into a conversion of their small magazine on human rights into a forum on the Velikovsky Affair, at least for ten issues. Stephen Talbott was a brilliant editor and organizer, bent upon opening the world to quantavolutionary ideas, but also to criticism of them. After spectacular successes, Pensée collapsed under a load of debt and overwork. As it was ending, it promised to broaden its interests beyond Velikovsky and to discuss ideas irreconcilable with his. Velikovsky would have no part of this, and several of his Eastern supporters -- with Lewis Greenberg and Warner Sizemore leading -- issued the first number of Kronos.[10]
ConferencesEdit
The "Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered" period also included sponsoring two three-day symposia which were attended by Velikovsky. The first ever "Velikovsky Symposium" held 16–18 August 1972, at Lewis and Clark College (who was also co-sponsor) convened 50 invited scholars, many from the ranks of Velikovsky's supporters, with 200 attendees.[8][11] In June 1974, "Velikovsky and the Recent History of the Solar System" at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, convened 38 invited scholars with a generally higher and non-aligned profile than in 1972, including such mainstream scientists as David Morrison (Univ. of Hawaii), James Warwick (Univ. of Colorado), and Derek York (Univ. of Toronto), and registered over 350 attendees.[12]
We have not encountered a single scientist working in any of the many fields, from archaeology to astrophysics, on which Velikovsky touches who finds any interest whatever in anything he has to say. That is why you have not seen any account of Velikovsky in our pages. . . . The controversy seems to be generated wholly by Velikovsky and his sympathizers. They cry "foul" because he is ignored and attempt to make an academic freedom case of it. The controversy is thus quite secondary. As I see it, the threat to academic freedom comes the other way around: by such tactics the Velikovsky party tries to compel interest by scientists in work in which they can find no interest.[13]
However, many magazines and journals did accept advertisements for Pensée, including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,[14]Science, Science News, and Physics Today.[15]
DemiseEdit
At the end of the ten issue Velikovsky feature, the subscribers were informed that "Pensee may not survive the future" in the back of tenth issue while soliciting subscription renewals for up to three years on the inside front cover[16] while the magazine was "seriously encumbered with debts".[17] Publication ceased with the tenth issue and in early 1976 subscribers were informed "Pensée has discontinued publication indefinitely".[18]
Velikovsky himself noted "When Pensée (1972-1974) completed the planned ten issues on the theme 'Velikovsky Reconsidered' I made it clear that I would not continue my cooperation as a regular contributor, not only because of a lack of time, but also because of disagreement with certain aspects of their editorial policy."[19][8]
SuccessorEdit
The successor Research Communications Network with Stephen L. Talbott as coordinator, which was "committed to no man and no theory", sent a newsletter to its "more than 16,000 U.S. members" six months later.[20] The Network served as a clearinghouse for developments in and information about catastrophism, with special attention to Robert V. Gentry's radiohalos[21] and David N. Talbott's "Saturn Thesis",[22] as well as offering a book service through its mailings of newsletters and resources fliers. The Network ceased operations in spring 1978 with a single sheet flier announcing a book close-out sale and an offering of Velikovsky's Ramses II and his Time.[23]
^Pensée Vol. 4 No 5: (Winter 1974-75) Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered X. "Why Pensee?"
^ abcMichael D. Gordin, The Pseudoscience Wars: Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe, Publ. University of Chicago Press, 2012, ISBN0226304426, 9780226304427, 291 pages (pp. 185)
^Alfred de Grazia, Cosmic Heretics (1984), Metron Publ., Chapter 4. ISBN0-940268-08-6
^Talbott, S. (Fall 1972). Compendium. Pensee II, 2 (3), 33.
^Anon. (Summer 1974). Report on the Symposium. Pensee VIII, 4 (3), 37-8.
^Henry H. Bauer, Beyond Velikovsky: The History of a Public Controversy, page 78-79, Publ. 1999 University of Illinois Press, 354 pages ISBN0-252-06845-9
^Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Jun 1972, Vol. 28, No. 6, ISSN 0096-3402 (page 58)
Gordin, Michael D. (September 26, 2012). The Pseudoscience Wars: Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe (illustrated, reprint ed.). Chicago, Illinois, USA: University of Chicago Press. p. 180. ISBN9780226304427. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
External linksEdit
Pensée -- Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered - Tables of contents of all ten issues
August 27, 2023
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered IVR was a special series of ten issues of the magazine Pensee advancing the pseudoscientific theories of Immanuel Velikovsky It was produced to encourage continuing critical analysis of all questions raised by Velikovsky s work 1 published between May 1972 and Winter 1974 75 by the Student Academic Freedom Forum whose president was David N Talbott with the assistance and cooperation of Lewis and Clark College Portland Oregon Velikovsky the man whose work was being examined objectively insinuated himself into the editing of the May 1972 issue 2 just as he had done earlier for the April 1967 Velikovsky issue of Yale Scientific Magazine 3 Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky ReconsideredSchoolLewis and Clark CollegeOwner s Student Academic Freedom ForumEditorStephen L TalbottFounded1972Circulation10 000 20 000Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered Vol VII Spring 1974 depicting a parody Immanuel Velikovsky by artist Robert Byrd that appeared in Philadelphia Magazine April 1968It achieved a circulation of between 10 000 20 000 with the first issue reprinted twice totalling 75 000 copies 4 and resulted in a book Velikovsky Reconsidered 5 containing selected articles many of them partisan 6 Contents 1 History 2 Staff 3 Conferences 4 Controversy 5 Demise 6 Successor 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Bibliography 9 External linksHistory EditIn the final issue of Pensee IVR the publisher recalled that the original magazine was Founded in 1966 and soon thereafter allowed to lapse for several years it was revived in 1970 as an unofficial student magazine distributed on Oregon campuses Late in 1971 the editor and publisher personally familiar with the work of Immanuel Velikovsky conceived the idea of finding someone qualified to write a major article describing Velikovsky s theories their implications and their reception Subsequent contact first with Velikovsky himself and then with several persons knowledgeable about his work led to the May 1972 issue of Pensee 7 Science magazine attributed the then increased support for Velikovsky s ideas to Pensee 8 Staff EditThe staff consisted of publisher David N Talbott and his brother Stephen L Talbott as editor and built up to five associate editors Lewis M Greenberg Ralph Juergens William Mullen C J Ransom and Lynn E Rose 9 Professor of Social Theory Alfred de Grazia noted that there came Pensee a production of the young Talbott brothers Stephen and David whose enthusiasm for his Velikovsky s work crystallized into a conversion of their small magazine on human rights into a forum on the Velikovsky Affair at least for ten issues Stephen Talbott was a brilliant editor and organizer bent upon opening the world to quantavolutionary ideas but also to criticism of them After spectacular successes Pensee collapsed under a load of debt and overwork As it was ending it promised to broaden its interests beyond Velikovsky and to discuss ideas irreconcilable with his Velikovsky would have no part of this and several of his Eastern supporters with Lewis Greenberg and Warner Sizemore leading issued the first number of Kronos 10 Conferences EditThe Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered period also included sponsoring two three day symposia which were attended by Velikovsky The first ever Velikovsky Symposium held 16 18 August 1972 at Lewis and Clark College who was also co sponsor convened 50 invited scholars many from the ranks of Velikovsky s supporters with 200 attendees 8 11 In June 1974 Velikovsky and the Recent History of the Solar System at McMaster University Hamilton Ontario convened 38 invited scholars with a generally higher and non aligned profile than in 1972 including such mainstream scientists as David Morrison Univ of Hawaii James Warwick Univ of Colorado and Derek York Univ of Toronto and registered over 350 attendees 12 Controversy EditA number of magazine and journals refused to accept advertisements for Pensee including American Scientist Sky and Telescope and Scientific American whose publishers wrote We have not encountered a single scientist working in any of the many fields from archaeology to astrophysics on which Velikovsky touches who finds any interest whatever in anything he has to say That is why you have not seen any account of Velikovsky in our pages The controversy seems to be generated wholly by Velikovsky and his sympathizers They cry foul because he is ignored and attempt to make an academic freedom case of it The controversy is thus quite secondary As I see it the threat to academic freedom comes the other way around by such tactics the Velikovsky party tries to compel interest by scientists in work in which they can find no interest 13 However many magazines and journals did accept advertisements for Pensee including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 14 Science Science News and Physics Today 15 Demise EditAt the end of the ten issue Velikovsky feature the subscribers were informed that Pensee may not survive the future in the back of tenth issue while soliciting subscription renewals for up to three years on the inside front cover 16 while the magazine was seriously encumbered with debts 17 Publication ceased with the tenth issue and in early 1976 subscribers were informed Pensee has discontinued publication indefinitely 18 Velikovsky himself noted When Pensee 1972 1974 completed the planned ten issues on the theme Velikovsky Reconsidered I made it clear that I would not continue my cooperation as a regular contributor not only because of a lack of time but also because of disagreement with certain aspects of their editorial policy 19 8 Successor EditThe successor Research Communications Network with Stephen L Talbott as coordinator which was committed to no man and no theory sent a newsletter to its more than 16 000 U S members six months later 20 The Network served as a clearinghouse for developments in and information about catastrophism with special attention to Robert V Gentry s radiohalos 21 and David N Talbott s Saturn Thesis 22 as well as offering a book service through its mailings of newsletters and resources fliers The Network ceased operations in spring 1978 with a single sheet flier announcing a book close out sale and an offering of Velikovsky s Ramses II and his Time 23 See also EditKronos A Journal of Interdisciplinary Synthesis Velikovskian publication References Edit A Look At the Evidence Editor s Page Pensee Vol 2 No 2 May 1972 Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered I 20 March 1978 letter from Tom Ferte to Jan Sammer Velikovsky s then assistant John W Crowley Some Background on YSM s VELIKOVSKY Issue 10 July 1984 sent to Henry H Bauer Henry H Bauer Beyond Velikovsky The History of a Public Controversy Publ 1999 University of Illinois Press 354 pages ISBN 0 252 06845 9 Velikovsky Reconsidered by the Editors of Pensee 184 pages Publ Doubleday amp Co 1976 ISBN 0 283 98314 0 Velikovsky Reconsidered book review New Scientist 22 Jul 1976 52 pages Vol 71 No 1010 ISSN 0262 4079 page 187 Pensee Vol 4 No 5 Winter 1974 75 Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered X Why Pensee a b c Michael D Gordin The Pseudoscience Wars Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe Publ University of Chicago Press 2012 ISBN 0226304426 9780226304427 291 pages pp 185 Pensee IVR X p 4 Alfred de Grazia Cosmic Heretics 1984 Metron Publ Chapter 4 ISBN 0 940268 08 6 Talbott S Fall 1972 Compendium Pensee II 2 3 33 Anon Summer 1974 Report on the Symposium Pensee VIII 4 3 37 8 Henry H Bauer Beyond Velikovsky The History of a Public Controversy page 78 79 Publ 1999 University of Illinois Press 354 pages ISBN 0 252 06845 9 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Jun 1972 Vol 28 No 6 ISSN 0096 3402 page 58 Pensee Fall 1972 2 3 p 37 Anon 1974 Why Pensee Pensee X 4 5 41 Stephen L Talbott Pensee Newsletter February 26 1976 Stephen L Talbott Pensee Newsletter February 26 1976 Dear Professor Greenberg Kronos Vol II No 2 Nov 1976 Research Communications Network Newsletter 1 10 September 1976 Anon 1977 Mystery of the Radiohalos Research Communications Network Newsletter 2 February 10 1977 3 6 Gibson John 1977 Saturn s Age Research Communications Network Newsletter 3 October 15 1977 1 7 RCN Mailings in C Leroy Ellenberger Archives Bibliography Edit Gordin Michael D September 26 2012 The Pseudoscience Wars Immanuel Velikovsky and the Birth of the Modern Fringe illustrated reprint ed Chicago Illinois USA University of Chicago Press p 180 ISBN 9780226304427 Retrieved September 11 2013 External links EditPensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered Tables of contents of all ten issues Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pensee Immanuel Velikovsky Reconsidered amp oldid 1144513989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
