Astrology and Science

Is Astrology a true Science?

Of course not. Person with no special skills science neither in astrology will find no difficulty with that answer and probably it is correct but for the different reasons then what we know. We think astrology as non-science or rather psuedoscience because for most of us astrology is immediately associated with zodiac based horoscopes in newspapers.

For any theory to be a science needs to follow the scientific method which has 4 prominent steps of evaluation. 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. 2. Formulation of a hypothesis to explain the phenomena. 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict the results of new observations. 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters, and properly performed experiments.

What makes it closer to science is may be 3rd step above, which states predictive nature of hypothesis, which is all over in astrology. One more thing, which makes it more interesting, is its vulnerable nature to be proven as a wrong scientific theory. Unlike other superficial theories and pseudosciences Astrology can be falsified to great extent.

Broadly there are two ways one can prove a theory as true or false, either by giving a proof which explains why it is true or change the criteria for validation of truth. Although there are quite a few theories trying to prove astrology as a a true scientific theory, there is no substantial work published or experiments conducted to prove or disprove the theories.

Magnetic field and biological clock

Here astrology takes theoretical support from physics. British astrophysicist Percy Seymour in "The Scientific Proof of Astrology," states that the movement of the sun, moon, and planets interfere with the Earth's magnetic field generated by the spinning molten iron core such that it affects the neural development of babies in the womb. So the attributes such as IQ, personality, and behaviour are hardwired at a biological level, which itself is very sensitive to the environment.

Hypothesis in the above argument is about Earth's magnetosphere affecting living embryo. For humans while embryo is developing in the womb, its neural network is synchronising itself to the earth's magnetic fluctuations. These responses to magnetic fluctuations are stored in memory used majorly by our subconscious mind. Human behaviour or reactions are driven by subconscious mind; we can safely call it based on experiences or default settings from the memory. So our neural network always carries a unique resonating properties, which responds to various magnetic variations from earth.

One can co-relate fairly agreeable relationship between magnetosphere around the earth and human reaction to particular event. Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Moon and other planetary objects in our solar system have their travel itinerary fixed. So we know the astronomical calendar and hence we can predict certain astrological patterns with good probability, this is logical.

Neutrino Theory

Like Magnetosphere this theory also goes back to physics and most fundamental particle in the universe; Neutrino. Neutrino is one of the fundamental particles in nature without any electrical charge and very negligible mass. Neutrino's are produced in nuclear reactions like those on our own sun. Universe is infinitely filled with neutrino's. However the chances of two neutrino hitting each other in space is very unlikely. Astrologer with physics background claims that these neutrinos have properties like any other object with mass and these properties undergoes changes when they pass through other objects particularly large ones like moon and other planets in our solar system. These particles are also responsible for changing properties of smaller objects through which they pass including humans.

Astrologers who are supporters of this theory also asserts that effect of neutrinos might be highest to younger bodies compared to adult human bodies. So based on this hypothesis and positions of heavenly bodies, a neutrino which came through sun, mercury, moon and finally hitting a young human body will inject unique set of properties than of a Neutrino from different route.

Scientific method is not the only way to prove theory logical.

Astrology is the study of how the movement of heavenly bodies affects how we behave. According to astrologer Richard Houck, astrology makes three distinguishing assertions. First, it claims that "every juncture point in space and time has content, and that this content can be described qualitatively." Secondly, that "all phenomena in the universe, no matter how large or small, are somehow synchronously linked through common symbolic reality." Third, that planets themselves don't cause human behaviour and that their "cycles are simply a mechanism to tell you 'what time it is' within your particular symbolic reality"

Following this argument, theory should not comply strictly to scientific method to be logical. Further to that theory should have enough experimental data along with hypothesis to make reliable predictions. That doesn't make Astrology is a false theory, it just makes it non-scientific.

Astrology is never been disproven, maybe its mostly ignored by intellectual lobby. In history it has always taken more time to disprove any scientific theory rather then proving it, it is very disappointing that astrology is sitting their since ages and there are no significant attempts to either prove the theory or disprove it. And Astrology at present is more of an entertaining skill than mysterious subject as the astrological community is fully dedicated to entertain us with its applications.

BY KB