ON SCIENTIFIC DOGMA / The Velikovsky Affair—Orthodox Reaction at Work

This document consists of two articles discussing the resistance of the scientific establishment to unconventional topics, specifically UFOs and the theories of Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky. In the first article, 'On Scientific Dogma,' Stewart Miller, Joint Secretary of the Cambridge University Group for the Investigation of UFOs, critiques the scientific community's dismissive attitude toward UFO research. Miller argues that scientists often approach the subject with a pre-existing, ultra-conservative bias, labeling it a 'parasite subject' and refusing to engage with evidence that conflicts with their established worldview. He highlights the tendency of experts to offer opinions without reviewing the evidence, citing Professor Bernard Lovell and Dr. Menzel as examples of scientists whose public statements on UFOs are either inaccurate or dismissive. Miller suggests that the scientific community's resistance to new ideas is rooted in a fear of challenging conventional wisdom and a desire to maintain institutional authority. The second article, 'The Velikovsky Affair—Orthodox Reaction at Work' by K. Mossman, draws a parallel between the treatment of UFO research and the academic community's reaction to Dr. Immanuel Velikovsky. Mossman details how Velikovsky, a psychiatric specialist, was subjected to a campaign of misrepresentation, ridicule, and suppression after publishing his theories on catastrophic events in the solar system. The article describes how the scientific establishment used its influence to silence Velikovsky, including pressuring publishers and denying him access to academic journals. Both articles collectively argue that the scientific establishment is not as objective as it claims, and that it actively works to suppress ideas that threaten the status quo.