Assumption vs Science
Just some more on the subject of astronomy and astrology.
Astrology is based on a number of assumptions that have been discredited in the last 2000 or so years. It was formulated when the sky was thought to be a crystal sphere centred on the Earth with the stars placed on this sphere. The stars and planets were thought to be gods in orbit around the Earth. The Earth was thought to be the centre of the Universe. The Earth was made of four so-called elements (earth, fire, air and water) while the heavens were made of a fifth element, the aether. This was the basis on which astrology was formulated.
We now know that the Earth is one of eight major planets in orbit around the Sun which is itself an ordinary star no different to the other stars in the sky (except closer). We also know that there are more than four elements (closer to 100). More importantly we know that the stars and planets are made up of the same elements that we find on Earth. We are PART of the Universe.
In the past there was no difference between astrology and astronomy. The two grew up together in a world of spirits, gods, ghosts and mysticism. Many people believe that the ancients had knowledge that has been lost. Some ancient ideas were remarkably accurate. Others were totally wrong. There are many examples of this.
Only by observing nature can an idea be verified or not. You cannot use the fact that something was believed by the ancients to verify an idea. You cannot say that something is correct because lots of people believe it. For most of history people believed the earth was flat! You cannot say that something is true because a famous scientist believes it. Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity (correct) and also wrote books about angels. You cannot say that angels exist because a genius like Newton believed in them. You cannot say the laws of gravity are correct because Newton says so. The laws of gravity are verified by observing objects travelling under the force of gravity and seeing if their paths are the ones predicted by these laws. There is no other way.
Albert Einstein’s Relativity Theory is considered one of the greatest achievements of human thought - but he did not accept many of the results of Quantum Mechanics, the other pillar of 20th century science. You cannot say whether Quantum Mechanics is true by quoting Einstein’s dislike of it. Only nature can answer the question is this theory correct.
It is important to separate cause and effect. People once noticed that when the Moon was visible, plants died. People believed that moonlight was harmful to plants. In fact it isn’t. When the Moon is visible, the sky is clear. When the sky is clear, frost is more likely in the Temperate regions. It is the frost that kills the plants NOT the moonlight.
The clear sky (cause) produces frost (effect) which kills plants and also makes the Moon visible (effect). The dead plants and the Moon are both the effects of the clear sky. The Moon and the dead plants are not directly related. Much of astrology is based on this type of reasoning.
For all life on earth the Sun is the most important object in the sky. It does not follow that the planets influence the Earth or us.
Some astrologers use tides as an explanation for astrology. The argument is as follows:
- The Moon causes tides (correct).
- Tides are a pull on the Earth’s waters (almost true but not quite right).
- The human brain is mainly water (correct).
- Therefore the Moon affects the brain.
This argument only sounds good if the listener does not fully understand how tides work. The tidal force of the Moon on the Earth depends on the mass of the Moon and its distance from the Earth. It also depends on the width of the Earth. Remember there are TWO tides per day. So it cannot be just that the Moon is pulling the Earth. The width of the Earth compared to the distance between the Earth and Moon is much much larger than the width of a human compared to that distance. This is difficult to envisage but is mathematically sound.
Astronomy is based on the scientific method of observation, deduction and experiment. Astrology is not. All experiments performed on astrology are inconclusive at best, and disprove it at worst. Astronomy is a science that can make verifiable predictions. Astrology’s predictions are hit and miss. In fact you get the same results as chance.
(Source: krysstal.com)
