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Astrology
2/18/1996
…lots and lots and lots of math.
3
Goals
• Is astrology a science?
• Why should we care?
• Is science just another belief?
3
Recap
•
•
Science is about making theories.
Scientific theories:
– Explain what is already seen
– Predict what can be seen in the future.
•
•
Predictions can be tested.
Scientific theories can be falsified.
3
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
3
Astrology
• Is it a science?
– Explain what is seen?
– Make predictions?
• Does it work?
• What test would falsify astrology?
3
Astrology Tests
• Come up with a test of astrology.
• Using no more than:
– People in this room.
– Available newspapers (past or present).
– Time available.
3
Does Astrology Work?
• Does it pass the test?
• Does it work better than chance?
• Does it matter?
3
Science vs. Astrology
• Scientists 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?
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Astrology and the President
“[Former
(TIME, May
White
16, 1988)
House
-- Chief of Staff, Donald] Regan and
others
make
a compelling
case that
inback
1986 and 1987
“The First
Lady
dabbled in astrology
as far
astrological
influence
dramatically
reduced the
as 1967. In 1981
[Joan] Quigley
made Nancy
[Reagan] a believer
…. And from
no by keeping
presidency's
effectiveness,
at then
leaston,
partly,
presidential
publicunder
appearance
was
slated
without
Ronald
Reagan
wraps
for
much
of the time.
the Friend's say-so. To this day, Nancy's Friend
Nancy's
intrusions in the scheduling process, Regan said
continues to influence the President's schedule.
inFor
anthe
interview
with TIME
last week,
‘began to interfere
Reagan-Gorbachev
Washington
summit,
with
thethe
normal
ofand
thedetermined
presidency.’”
she cast
charts conduct
of both men
(TIME, May 16, 1988)
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 Tuesday 14-Sept: Read Bennett Section 1.1 – 1.2 (B1.1 – B1.2).
Due Wednesday 15-Sept: Read Sg2 The Harmony of Worlds from Cosmos
and B5.3
1.
2.
3.
Some assert that Kepler’s discovery represents the true birth of science as it is
now practiced. Describe why one would assert this (put your answer in the
context of this week’s discussion)?
Bennett, Chapter 5, Problem 23
You observe a small moon orbiting Jupiter. You measure how far away from
Jupiter it is and how long it takes it to go once around. With this information
you can learn:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Jupiter’s radius.
Jupiter’s radius and the moon’s radius.
The moon’s mass and the moon’s radius.
Jupiter’s mass.
The moon’s mass.
3