“
By far, the oldest of the claptrap philosophies of mankind is astrology [...] But there is probably no other major delusion that is more easily examined and shown to be without any logical basis. Thus, its hold on the public is all the more remarkable.”
— James Randi
undesputable:
Electromagnetism, gravity and the other 2 forces have to be combined first, which is what string physists are trying to do right now. I think its unfair to debunk something, by concepts that we dont even truly understand yet when combined together.
It’s unfair to your brain to pull nonsense from your behind.
ad hoc hypothesis. “An ad hoc hypothesis is one created to explain away facts that seem to refute one’s theory. Ad hoc hypotheses are common in paranormal research and in the work of pseudoscientists.”
“Astrologers are often fond of using statistical data and analysis to impress us with the scientific nature of astrology. Of course, a scientific analysis of the statistical data does not always pan out for the astrologer. In those cases, the astrologer can make the data fit the astrological paradigm by the ad hoc hypothesis that those who do not fit the mold have other, unknown influences that counteract the influence of the dominant planets.”
—
The Skeptic’s Dictionary
ok lets get something straight....youre still the same person, you just changed a couple of your beliefs and therefore your reality. Astrology descriptions of your personality are not so fixed in which you can change for the better. Actually, it helps you change for the better by reading about your weaknesses and changing them. And of course, there are many many external factors that come into account of how you are.
“One claim may be that those born under the sign of Aquarius are loving and kind, but when we come across a cruel Aquarian, the astrologer will not accept this as a falsifying instance; rather he or she will try to direct attention to another part of the person’s “chart.”
Not only is one’s personality determined by the sun sign, but also by the moon sign, ascendant, and numerous “houses” and planets. This gives the astrologer many chances to point out why the person does not fit under the already vague descriptions of “kind,” or “stubborn.” With numerous aspects of the chart, and only 12 possibilities for each aspect, the chances that every sign (or at least 92%) is found in the chart are very high. Thus the astrologer can easily find one of the various signs that more easily fit that description, and say something like “Yes, you’re cruel because you have Capricorn in your Mars....”
Lawrence Jerome summed up this silliness best when he wrote:
When the entire chart is constructed and interpreted, the astrologer has no less than nineteen or twenty separate horoscope elements [...] A complete, “well-aspected” chart may provide the studious astrologer with as many as fifty to a hundred separate horoscope elements from which to choose and juggle in matching his interpretation to the client at hand.
In short, the claims made by astrologers are more based on faith and emotion than anything rational. Like a hybrid of theologian and magician, the well-trained astrologer can pull an ad-hoc hypothesis out of his proverbial hat at any moment, and perform a hermeneutic miracle almost on command.”
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“Astrology” by Ibn Copernici ar-Rumi
So, if a horoscope is correct, astrology “wins”. If a horoscope is wrong, astrology “wins”. Now if only you could do that with the lottery...
