A → pseudoscience based on the belief that the apparent
positions and → aspects of a small number of
celestial bodies influence the course of human life and terrestrial events.
Although the Sun and Moon have a gravitational influence on Earth, there is no known
force that can cause celestial bodies to affect human affairs
in the way claimed by → astrologers.
Generally speaking, astrology is baseless and
incoherent. In the astrological belief the influence of celestial bodies
does not depend upon their distance from Earth, but on their positions and
apparent angular separations.
Outer planets can have a similar degree of influence as
the inner planets. As a consequence, the billions of planets in our Galaxy and
in billions of other galaxies should also influence us, and logically the effect of those
planets must overwhelm any influence of the planets we see. Nevertheless astrologers
do not care, and this fact makes astrological deductions absurd even in their
scheme. Historically, the planets → Uranus,
→ Neptune, and
→ Pluto were not used in astrological predictions.
They were added from the 18th century onward, after their discovery. Now that Pluto
is disqualified as a planet, will astrologers remove it from their theories? If the answer
is negative, they must logically include the numerous other similar
→ dwarf planets (such as
→ Charon, → Quaoar,
→ Sedna) residing in the
→ Kuiper belt. In brief, astrology is
a superstition chiefly based on ignorance and man’s need for
mental contentment.
Etymology (EN): → astro-; → -logy.
Etymology (PE): Axtarguyi, literally “star-telling,” from axtar “star,”
→ astro- + guyi verbal noun from
goftan “to tell, speak, talk;” Mid.Pers. guftan “to say, tell,
utter;” O.Pers. gaub- “to say.”
