Astrology: A growing Pseudoscience
“Astronomy is a science — the study of the “universe as it is. Astrology is a pseudoscience — a claim, in the absence of good evidence, that the other planets affect our everyday lives. In Ptolemy’s time the distinction between astronomy and astrology was not clear. Today it is.” — Carl Sagan, Cosmos
Pseudoscience is a proposition, a finding or a System of explanation that is presented as science but that lacks the rigor essential to the scientific method.
Here are some symptoms of Pseudoscience:
1. Is UNFALSIFIABLE. It means it makes vague or unobservable claims
2. It relies heavily on ANECDOTES, personal experiences, and testimonials.
3. It CHERRY PICKS confirming evidence while ignoring/minimizing disconfirming evidence.
4. It uses TECHNOBABBLE, Words that sound scientific but don’t make sense.
5. It lacks PLAUSIBLE MECHANISM. It has no way to explain it based on existing knowledge.
6. Is UNCHANGING. It never self-correct or progress.
7. It makes EXTRAORDINARY/EXAGGERATED CLAIMS with insufficient evidence.
8. It professes CERTAINTY. It talks of “proof,” with great confidence while there is no certainty that they are right.
9. It commits LOGICAL FALLACIES. The arguments contain errors in reasoning.
10. Lacks PEER REVIEW: Goes directly to the public, avoiding scientific scrutiny.
11. Claims there’s a CONSPIRACY to suppress their ideas.
Early Greek astronomers, derived their first knowledge from the Egyptians, and these from the Chaldeans, among whom the science was studied, at a very early period. Their knowledge of astronomy, which gave their learned men the name of Magi, wise men, afterwards degenerated into astrology, or the art of consulting the position of the stars to foretel events—and hence sprung the silly occupation of sooth saying, for which the Chaldeans were noted to a proverb, in later ages. Thus Astronomy is to Astrology is what Religion is to superstition, the wise mom of mad daughter.
Astrology started out as a stellar calendar known as agricultural astronomy. In ancient Babylon, when the sun would rise in the constellation of Aquarius (the water bearer) it meant the coming of the rainy season. In Egypt, the rising of the star Sirius, meant the annual flooding of the Nile was coming. Ancient peoples used stellar calendars to plan crops.
But humans look for all manner of predictive properties in natural occurrences around them in order to minimize uncertainty in their personal lives. So, divination developed over a couple hundred years leading up to Alexander the Great conquering the known world. Thus, divination through astrology became a more unified process and astronomy and astrology were one and the same. That is, until Newton discovered gravity.
At that point, the movements of the stars became mathematically constant and, cue the enlightenment, astrology officially separated from the field of astronomy, becoming pseudoscience.
It has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. While some may view astrology as a harmless form of entertainment, it is important to recognize that it is a pseudoscientific practice with no basis in empirical evidence.
Astrology’s popularity can be attributed to a number of factors, including the rise of social media and the internet, which have made it easier for astrologers to reach a wider audience. Additionally, many people may find comfort in the idea that their fate is predetermined by the alignment of the stars, rather than accepting personal responsibility for their actions and choices.
However, as a scientifically literate, it is essential to approach astrology with a healthy dose of skepticism. The idea that the position of the planets and stars at the time of our birth can influence our personality traits and life path is not supported by any scientific evidence. In fact, studies have consistently shown that astrology is no more accurate than chance.
Furthermore, astrology has been thoroughly debunked by astronomy, the scientific study of celestial bodies. While astrology focuses on the supposed influence of the planets and stars on human behavior, astronomy has revealed that these bodies have no impact on our lives beyond the physical laws of gravity and light.
As scientifically literate, we must remain vigilant against the rise of pseudoscience like astrology. While it may seem harmless or even amusing, the promotion of false beliefs can have serious consequences, such as delaying or preventing people from seeking evidence-based treatments for medical conditions.
Astronomer and cosmologist Carl Sagan, in his popular Science documentary Cosmos said, "If our lives are controlled by a set of traffic signals in the sky, why try to change anything? How could the rising of Mars at the moment of my birth affect me, then or now? I was born in a closed room. Light from Mars couldn’t get in. The only influence of Mars which could affect me was its gravity. But the gravitational pull of the obstetrician was much larger than the gravitational influence of Mars. Mars is a lot more massive, but the obstetrician was much closer. Astrology can be tested by the lives of twins. There are many real cases like this: one twin is killed in childhood in, say, a riding accident or struck by lightning, while the other one lives to a prosperous old age. Supposed that had happened to me. Both twins would have been born in exactly the same place and within minutes of each other, exactly the same planets would be rising at our births. If astrology were valid, how would we have such profoundly different fates? Astrologers cannot even agree among themselves what a given horoscope means. The desire to be connected with the Cosmos reflects a profound reality. We are connected, not in the trivial ways that pseudosciences promise, but in the deepest ways. Our little planet is under the influence of a star. The sun warms us. It drives the weather. It sustains all living things. Four billion years ago, it brought forth life on Earth."
For more on cognitive biases pertaining to predictive phenomenon:
i) Apophenia: finding meaningful patterns between unrelated things
ii) Barnum effect: accepting information to be personally true when it is too vague to hold any concrete meaning
iii) Cold reading: tactic used by psychics, fortune-tellers, and mediums using vague, high probability questions in order to get the individual to lead into more detailed information themselves.
It is subject to worry that, especially as this Millennium edges nearer, pseudoscience and superstition will seem year by year more tempting and coming in focus of public. The siren song of unreason is becoming more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to our self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us — then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls.
The candle flame of scientific wisdom gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons of pseudoscience begin to stir.
In conclusion, while astrology may be a popular pastime for some, it is important to remember that it is not a scientifically valid practice. As Carl Sagan famously said, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” Until such evidence exists to support the claims of astrology, we must view it with skepticism and encourage others to do the same.
