Astrology
2/18/1996
…lots and lots and lots of math.
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Goals
• Non-scientific theories.
• Is astrology a science?
• Why should we care?
• Is science just another belief?
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Concept Test
• Consider the following hypothesis:
An all powerful being created the
universe 12 days ago with all our
memories and all physical evidence
intact.
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Limitations of Science
• Key to the scientific method is The Test.
• Q: What can and cannot be tested?
• Q: What is and is not reproducible?
• A: Magic, the Divine, matters of faith cannot be
tested and are not reproducible.
• Result:
1. Science is the search for natural or material
explanations to the Universe.
2. Science is limited to those questions of which natural
or material explanations can be applied.
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Limitations of Science
• Can science disprove the existence of
God?
• Can science disprove the existence of
Divine Action?
• Science is limited to the search for
natural explanations.
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What can Science Say?
• Is there evidence for un-natural
explanations?
– The unknown versus the unknowable!
– God of the Gaps.
– Intelligent Design.
• Are we justified in assuming that natural
or material explanations are sufficient to
describe the world?
• Are we justified in assuming the Universe
isn’t random.
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Concept Test
• Which of the following DO NOT satisfy
the requirements of a scientific theory?
a. Objects of different mass fall to Earth with the
same acceleration.
b. The Universe is expanding from an initial point that
existed 12 billion years ago.
c. The better a species is adapted to its environment
the more likely it is to pass on the ability to
survive to its descendents.
d. Outside our universe is another universe with
which we have no contact.
e. The making of leavened bread requires yeast.
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Non-scientific Theories
• Make no predictions
• Un-testable
• Can’t be falsified
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Falsification
• A real Scientific Theory tells you what
observations are necessary to falsify it.
– Not so proponents of:
• Face on Mars
• Moon Hoax
• Astrologers
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Non-scientific Theories
Viking Orbiter (1976) Mars Global Surveyor (1998)
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Concept Test
• Consider the following hypothesis:
An all powerful being created the universe 12
days ago with all our memories and all physical
evidence intact.
• This is not a scientific hypothesis because:
a. Does not explain what is seen.
b. Postulates a supreme being.
c. Makes no predictions.
d. Disagrees with currently accepted theories.
e. None of the above.
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Concept Test
• Consider the following theory. Why does it not
satisfy the requirements of a scientific theory?
“The chain of events needed for life to arise is too
complicated to have happened by chance, a divine
intelligence must therefore have caused life to arise
(Intelligent Design).”
a. It assumes the natural process by which life arose
isn’t just unknown, but is unknowable.
b. It makes no prediction which can be tested.
c. It requires causes that are not material.
d. All of the Above.
e. None of the Above.
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Recap
• Science is a way of making theories to
explain the physical world.
• Scientific theories:
– Explain what is already seen
– Predict what can be seen in the future.
• Predictions can be tested.
• Scientific theories can be falsified.
• Reproducible and self-correcting.
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Astrology
• The date, time, (and place) of birth affect:
– Your personality
– Your actions
– Events that will affect your life
• Horoscopes appear in most papers.
• Millions of people read them daily.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/horoscopes/astrology101.html
http://astrology.about.com/od/basicsofastrology/
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Astrology
• Like other “-ologies”, is it a science?
– Explain what is seen?
– Make predictions?
• Does it work?
• What test would falsify astrology?
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Astrology Tests
• Come up with a test of astrology.
• Using no more than:
– People in this room.
– Available newspapers (past or present).
– Time available.
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Does Astrology Work?
• Does it pass the test?
• Does it work better than chance?
• Does it matter?
“One of the other prime uses of astrology is in connection with
the basic psychology of children and recognizing in children, at an
early age, a basis for later psychological difficulties. The
horoscope is perhaps the best method to reveal these tendencies
while the child is still in infancy. When parents know from the
beginning where the seeds of difficulties lie in the child's life,
early care and training might mitigate much later unhappiness.”
- The Cosmic Palette: Astrology 101 by Haizen Paige
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Science vs. Astrology
• Scientists are skeptical of astrology
because:
a. It takes power out of the hands of scientists.
b.It can’t be tested.
c. It has failed when tested.
d.It proposes forces that are non-physical.
e.It threatens our belief in a knowable universe.
• But no one believes astrology so who
cares? 3
Astrology and the President
“[Former White House Chief of Staff, Donald] Regan and
(TIME, May 16, 1988) --
“The make a compelling case that in as
others First Lady dabbled in astrology 1986 and 1987
far back as 1967. In dramatically reduced
astrological influence1981 [Joan] Quigley the
made Nancy [Reagan] a believer partly,
presidency's effectiveness, at least …. Andby keeping
from then on, under wraps for much
Ronald Reaganno presidential public of the time.
appearance was slated
Nancy's intrusions in thewithout the process, Regan said
scheduling
Friend's say-so. To this day, Nancy's
Friend continues to influence week, „began to interfere
in an interview with TIME lastthe
President's schedule. For the presidency.‟”
with the normal conduct ofthe Reagan-
(TIME, May 16, 1988)
Gorbachev Washington summit, she cast
the charts of both men and determined
that 2 p.m. on Dec. 8, 1987, was the most propitious
moment for them to sign the intermediate-range
nuclear forces treaty. At Nancy's behest, the entire
summit was built around that hour. For the upcoming
Moscow summit, Gorbachev's chart (he is a Pisces) has
been recast alongside Reagan's (Aquarius).”
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Homework #3
• Due Wednesday 10-Sept: Read Sg3 The
Harmony of Worlds from Cosmos.
1. On page 64 Carl says “Kepler stood on the cusp of history; the last
scientific astrologer was the first astrophysicist.” What’s the
difference between these two and what does it mean to make the
transition from one to the other?
2. Bennett, Chapter 3 (B3), Problem 32
3. In 2005 Mike Brown at Caltech discovered an object orbiting the Sun
in the outer-reaches of our solar system. It is an object larger than
Pluto. According to Brown, the planet orbits (on average) 70 AU
(astronomical units) away from the Sun. How many years does it take
this new “planet” to make one complete orbit of the Sun?
a. 70 years
b. 140 years
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c. 490 years
d. 590 years
e. 4900 years.