Is Astrology a Science?

This is a question which has cropped up occasionally over the years. The funny thing is that this is a question asked by many educated people. So, is astrology a science?
Well, simply put: no, it is not.

Is is fun reading your horoscope in the paper? Sure, if you have nothing else to do.
Is it fun reading Linda Goodman's Sun Signs? (What! You don't read it???) Sure, it's humorous and full of hyperbole and exaggerations.

Unfortunately, that's not where it stops. People take it far too seriously. The danger starts when people base decisions on astrological charts rather than rationale, especially when the latter is freely available and more straightforward.

One of the fundamental principles of science is that it is subject to experimentation. If it can be proved by experiment, it can be more credibly accepted. This is one place where astrology fails miserably. A prediction about the future has no guarantees attached to it. No astrologer will explain it in a way that makes any rational sense. "Tomorrow is a bad day because Mars is in the third house."
Now, what does that mean?
Upon further inquiry, you might find that Mars representing war, and the third house (whatever that is) representing X part of the body is a bad combination (or something to that effect). But that's where it ends. Why something is so, in the end, comes down to accepting a set of rules which are sacrosanct. No science works this way.

A certain set of rules may be sacrosanct in a particular science for a certain period of time, but if they fail to explain observations, it's time to change these rules. Not so in astrology.

Another premise of science is that if an experiment is repeated under identical conditions in any other place in our universe, the results will be the same. This is again not true in astrology. The same planetary alignment could be interpreted favorably by some person in India, as a portent of doom by an American astrologer, and as indifferent by an Arabic one.

There may once have been a use for astrology in ancient days, when science was not advanced enough, and people not educated enough to reason certain things out. Therefore, rules of thumb were more efficient ways to handle things. However, many of those rules of thumb are outmoded today.

But, there's a case to not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Astrology, misguided as it is, did have some uses. Certain astrological warnings like: "Do not go out during a solar eclipse", do have a grain of truth attached to them. Staring at the sun during an eclipse is a highly dangerous activity, but not because Rahu is attacking, but because it is highly dangerous to view the sun at any time, even at a time when its brilliance is minescule, due to the dangerous electromagnetic radiation that can damage your eyes.

So, there's a simple scientific explanation. No hocus pocus, no jiggery pokery.
Similarly, as a friend and amateur astronomer pointed out, the position of the planets as captured in the horoscope is an accurate representation of the sky at that point in time.


So, does this mean that people will stop believing in astrology? That's like asking someone who has been using a crutch all his life to suddenly walk without it. Can it be done? Well, isn't that what education is supposed to be doing?

The Three Ages of Country

So, back to Yankeeland. To a place that I have not seen before. For the Geographically challenged, this is how you tell where you are in this country:

If you're surrounded by African-Americans, you are in Atlanta.
If you're surrounded by White people, you're in Texas.
If you're surrounded by Desis, you're in California.

At least, a good rule of thumb to go by!

So, what's the difference between America, India and Europe? Or are they all the same in the end? I guess, after a year, certain aspects of life in these parts, and why they are so are making themselves clear.

The U.S. is a pretty young country - only 230 years old; and its attitude reflects this. It is a rebellious teenager, and most of the country is built like that. It is a paradise for teenagers - all the activities you can do, but very little of any meaning. (Oh, yeah, you even feel that it could do with a stern talking to at times!)A country built for the kid with the car, with miles to go before he does not sleep. Not much sense of community, especially since every kid is experimenting with new stuff here. Hard to stick around with the same set of folks. There is energy, but very little focus or purpose.

Europe is built for the young adult/middle aged person. Plenty of stuff to do, but also with some cultural activities to enlighten the mind. And, like people in this stage of life, it is the prime of civilization today. The realization that cars are not everything has dawned, and better systems and infrastructure is in place, to make even strangers feel welcome at once. The energy has been channelized towards something useful.

India is essentially - an old person. The infrastructure is broken down, normal functioning is down to an all time low, but, in spite of all that, life is still more enjoyable - without the need to work your butt off as you did in your prime. There is time to stand and stare; and quite a bit to stare at as well. The sense of community is paramount; after all, you realize after all these years that it is the people who you have around you that matter.

Having been brought up in an old man's home, makes one used to a certain level of don't-really-care, and also a certain level of community. Now living in a country that is essentially miles behind in such matters is an interesting prospect; it is like moving in with a bunch of kids, who've somehow become the head of the household.