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Brief abstracts of articles on this website
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gr = graphics, m = minutes reading time, *new or updated since July 2008
Adroit Utilities New visitors should start here
Brief biographies of authors
-- Hubert Basler, T Patrick Davis, Geoffrey
Dean, Suitbert Ertel, Jacques Halbronn, David Hamblin, Ivan W Kelly,
Bart Koene, Alan Leo, Arthur Mather, David Nias, Peter Niehenke, Garry
Phillipson, Rudolf Smit, and Koen Van de moortel. Most with a
photograph. 8gr 5m
Case for and against astrology
-- Cites views on astrology by
astrologers and scientists. Includes research findings, two figures
showing key results, and how not to test astrology. Case against is that
astrology is factually untrue. Case for is that astrology can be
personally meaningful. 2gr 12m
Grand summary
-- This entire website in 600 words. Astrology ranges from
the trivial to the profound. Today for the first time in 20 centuries we
can answer most questions about astrology. For astrologers the answers
are often bad news. But there is more to astrology than being true or
false. 2m
Guide to sources
-- Where to find scientific research into astrology.
Covers websites, journals, books, the low standard of astrological
sources, emergence of a scientific research base, and growth of
published research articles since 1930 (1 figure). With an annotated
bibliography of 60 critical works. 1gr 20m
Journal cumulative contents
-- Lists the contents of the astrological
research journals Correlation 1981-2007, the now defunct
Astro-Psychological Problems 1982-1995, and (briefly) Astrologie in
Onderzoek 1977-2003 and Kosmos 1978-1995. With commentaries, pictures,
and statistics. 9gr 40m
Links
-- Almost all astrology on the Web is commercial or social talk,
or the same endlessly repeated generalities, so that few sites are
actually useful to scientific readers. Here we list the more useful
sites (37 of general interest and 70 relevant to research) that were
active at December 2007. 2gr 30m
Printing, searching, translating articles
-- Gives help on printing,
formatting, saving as text files, searching, and translating articles. 1m
Quick index
-- Short cuts for readers mainly interested in empirical
findings. 90 entries linked to the most relevant articles on artifacts,
critiques, effect sizes, research results, and sources. 1m
Reference alert
-- 1700 references obtained by entering the keyword
astrology or astrolog* into ten online academic databases covering
journals, books and theses in the fields of arts, biology, business,
history, humanities, medicine, psychology, science, and social sciences. 1gr 95m
Site philosophy
-- Includes aims, history, how to contact us. Site
provides readable articles on scientific research into astrology that
are also sensitive to astrology's merits. All articles have a brief
abstract and a full abstract. Website began 2000, has 16,000 visitors a
year. Comments are welcome. 1gr 2m
Applied astrology Critical views of. See also Sun Signs
Astrologer meets client
-- Tricks of the trade. Astrology is a means of
communication not a source of knowledge, but various tricks of the trade
make it seem otherwise. Astrological consultation is more a massage of
the client's ego than a message from the stars. With ten cartoons. 10gr 12m
Astrology my passion
-- The founder of this website tells how reading
charts converted him from a skeptic to a believer. But learning how his
readings could convince clients that astrology was true even if false,
and the failure of astrology when tested, converted him back again. 3gr 15m
Basic statements about astrology
-- In 1983 German astrologers agreed on
seven basic statements about astrology that implied astrology had been
proven true and worked for reasons unknown. Today this no longer
applies. Six new statements are proposed to replace the seven old ones. 25m
Concepts of modern astrology
-- Here the core ideas of serious astrology
meet expert critical thinking. Astrology needs (but lacks) sound ideas
and sound methods for detecting errors. Long, thorough, but very
readable. With many quotes from leading astrologers and a staggering 250
references. 1gr 90m
Horary astrology
-- Horary astrology is said to give accurate yes/no
answers, but this is incompatible with the disagreement among
astrologers on crucial issues and its often ambiguous rules. 3m
Moment Supreme
-- Horoscopes seem to correctly describe a person. This
discovery is an unforgettable Moment Supreme, which makes astrologers
keep on believing in astrology. But the accuracy is due to non-
astrological factors, not to astrology. So the Moment Supreme is an
illusion, albeit a beautiful one. 12m
Murder
-- A skeptic visited professional astrologers giving the birth
data of a serial killer as his own. They generally described him as kind
and considerate. Similar results were obtained using the birth data of
two other serial killers. Orthodox predictors of psychopathy are much
better. 10m
Optimum place for astrology
-- Science = observation and testing,
astrology = anything goes, with no overlap. So reverting to a declared
art form may be the only valid way ahead for astrology, where the birth
chart is now simply a tool for channeling wisdom from astrologer to
client. 7m
Theories of astrology
-- Surveys the role of theories (ie explanations),
the many speculative theories of why astrology works (none are useful),
a theory based on non-astrological factors (the only theory to have
survived repeated tests), and theories of astrology's longevity and
perceived value. 46 references. 25m
Using astrology as a counselling tool
-- Surveys the trend away from
chart reading to chart exploration. Includes what makes a good
therapist, a good client, a successful outcome, examples of how it
works, and insights from an astrology for which no claims of validity
are made. 115 references. 1gr 70m
Book reviews
Astrology File
Scientific Proof of the Link between Star Signs and Human
Behaviour (Sachs) -- Three reviews of a 1998 best-seller. First shows
how flaws in reasoning make results meaningless. Second re-analyses
Sachs's data and finds no support for the claims. Third finds many
statistical errors. 30m
Astrology Really Works!
(Magi 1995) -- Claims to present irrefutable
evidence that astrology really works, and challenges skeptics to prove
otherwise. A good example of claims based entirely on artifacts and of
how not to do research. Review includes probability of contacts in
declination. 1gr 10m
Astrology, Science and Culture
(Willis & Curry 2004) -- Claims the only
real astrology is horary astrology, or divination, which fills the world
with magic and meaning. Empirical findings and contrary views (even
those of astrologers) are dismissed. A highly unreadable, biassed and
ultimately futile book by academics. Now updated with Curry's brief
reply, the reviewers' response, and a summary of five other reviews. 25m
Cosmos and Psyche
Intimations of a New World View (Tarnas 2006) --
Claims that astrology promises an escape from disenchanting science.
Based on 30 years of research without controls. Main features are huge
erudition, paralysing unreadability, inferential incompetence, and
unfounded conclusions. 1gr 25m
Self-defence / Case for A
(Parry 1990 and West 1991) -- Two militant
books promise new support for astrology but deliver only dated studies
and selective reporting. 15m
Doing Scientific Research See also Objections. Includes research results
Artifacts in data
-- Artifacts are non-astrological factors that mimic
astrology and wrongly persuade us that it works. Artifacts can afflict
data (this article) and reasoning (next article). This article includes
artifacts in data that became famous as the best claimed evidence for
astrology. 2gr 10m
Artifacts in reasoning
-- Explores over 30 hidden persuaders (systematic
errors in human reasoning that we are generally unaware of) that
explains why astrologers and clients can be convinced that astrology
works even if it doesn't. All are in everyday use in astrology. None
require that astrology be true. 10m
Astro sleuthing contests
-- Organised in the 1990s by the late T Patrick
Davis to try and reach consensus among astrologers on what methods work
best. Results showed that astrological methods are in chaos and that
astrologers are generally not interested in sorting them out. 15m
Competitions in astrology
-- Surveys 15 prize competitions and their
results, especially the results of the $US5000 superprize offered in
1984 for evidence that the accuracy of chart interpretations cannot be
explained by non-astrological factors. 50 references. 65m
Effect sizes
-- A non-technical look at how effect sizes in astrology
(and graphology, palmistry etc) are not usefully better than chance, how
effect sizes in orthodox approaches are much better, and how astrology
works even when the wrong chart is used. What astrology books don't tell
you. 5gr 10m
Four key topics
-- In 1994-99 astrologers and scientists collaborated on
four surveys covering the relevance of science, philosophical problems,
theories of astrology, and faulty reasoning. A fifth unfinished survey
was of future directions for research. The outcomes are summarised. 7m
Meta-analyses
of nearly 300 empirical studies -- Brings together in
graphical form meta-analyses of sun sign self-attribution, matching
tests, picking own chart, astrologer agreement, Gauquelin's tests of
signs, aspects and planets, and lunar and other effects. Results are
uniformly negative. 6gr 15m
Phillipson interview of researchers
-- Garry Phillipson grills this
website's five researchers with over 150 questions covering the methods,
results, and problems of scientific research into astrology. Easy to
read, concise, nontechnical, has a massive index. (Abstract includes
excerpts, takes 4m to read.) 4gr 2h
Projection
-- Astrology as a tarot reading. The same tarot card can
evoke different responses in different people. It is the client who
gives the cards meaning via a process called projection. The paranormal
is not needed. Projection alone is sufficient to explain the tarot's and
astrology's success. 4gr 15m
Research results
-- abstracts of 91 studies, most of them empirical,
from the astrological research journals Correlation, APP, AinO, and
Kosmos. Length averages 270 words. Covers character, events, signs,
aspects, houses, Gauquelin effect, tests of astrologers, and approaches
to research. Illustrates research since the 1980s and the negative
results obtained. With nine figures. 9gr 85m
Truth of astrology
-- A look at arguments supporting astrology made by
30 astrologers in response to a competition. In each case faulty
reasoning has led them astray. Astrology is unlikely to become
respectable unless astrologers embrace critical thinking skills. 25m
Vested interests 1, scientific integrity 0
-- Decline and fall of
the AA's research journal Correlation. A salutary look at what happens
when science is unable to deliver the support required by vested
interests. The days when Correlation could be regarded as a serious
journal seem to be over. 20m
What tests are easy?
-- A guide for students doing projects. Has three
tests of sun sign beliefs, two tests of sun sign columns, one test of
astrologers, and one test of Barnum effects. 8m
What works best in astrology?
-- For students of astrology. Explore your
ideas using the charts of 24 people who have clear-cut characteristics.
Indications as they arrive will be added anonymously to this article. So
far nine responses showing little agreement. Allow several hours
exploration time. 7m
Gauquelin
The Gauquelin work 1
-- A concise history with rare photographs. Michel
Gauquelin (1928-1991) with Francoise Gauquelin (1929-2007) discovered tiny
planetary effects that created baffling puzzles for astrology and
science. Includes effect sizes, his negative results in detail, and 9
tributes. 13gr 50m*
The Gauquelin work 2
-- Opinions, artifacts, puzzles. Natural and
procedural artifacts explain hardly any of the baffling puzzles, and
controlling them has little effect on planetary effects. Social
artifacts explain every puzzle but the effect of controlling them is not
yet known. 14gr 45m*
The Gauquelin work 3
-- Dean's January 2006 reply to Correlation
articles by Ertel, Kollerstom, Douglas and others on Gauquelin matters.
It displays in a different colour the 60% (including crucial paragraphs)
censored by the Correlation editor. Includes a reply to Ertel's
rejoinder. 4gr 25m
Historical Includes obituaries
Alan Leo's tests of astrology
-- During 1906-1914 twenty prize
competitions in Modern Astrology had readers delineate an anonymous
chart for rating by the subject. Leo held (wrongly) that the results
proved the truth of astrology. With examples of delineations, ratings,
and testimonials. 3gr 20m
Astrology should be encouraged
-- In 1907 this prize-winning essay
claimed astrology gives good guidance on health, marriage, friends,
travel, jobs, etc, and has never been proven false. 4m
Chair of Astrology
-- In 1998 a million pounds was bequeathed for a
Chair of Astrology at a British university. Summarises the views in 1999
of two dozen academics and a think-tank of astrologers. Predictions by
the academics were essentially correct. With an appendix of 3 media articles. 25m
Concerning the vanity of astrology
-- this 1674 criticism of astrology
by John Flamsteed (1646-1719), the first astronomer royal, was perhaps
the earliest by a major scientist. His points (the disagreement on
basics, the endless nonfalsifiability, the absence of a mechanism) still
apply today. 1gr 5m
Evolution of claimed evidence for astrology
-- Illustrated by 1850s
astro-meteorology, debates with critics in 1908 and 1933, a 1936 booklet
by astrologer Charles Carter, a 1951 letter by science editor John
O'Neill, the 1958 founding of the AA, and a 1976 response to 186
scientists by science writer Mark Feldman. They are reminders of how
limited our scientific understanding of astrology was up to the 1970s. 5gr 20m*
How astrology can help everyday life
-- A digest of a 1984 monograph in
which a scripture professor from Frieburg looks at the astrological mode
of thinking, its hypotheses, benefits and liabilities, and how it can
provide helpful viewpoints even if false. An example of the thinking
then emerging. 5m
Indian scientists on Vedic astrology
-- In 2001 the University Grants
Commision in India offered to fund courses in astrology and palmistry at
Indian universities. Article summarises 30 letters from scientists to
the prestigious Indian journal Current Science. Not all were against. 15m
Obituary of H.J.Eysenck
-- Professor Hans Eysenck (1916-1997) was
arguably the most influential psychologist of his time. Covers his
upbringing, career, writings, and interest in graphology, astrology and
parapsychology. He was an inspiration to many. Includes a critical look
at his birth chart. 2gr 15m
Origins
of Recent Advances in Natal Astrology -- Its publication in 1977
was a landmark in the history of scientific astrology. Interviews in
1978 and 1989 with its compilers, and in 1985 with Charles Harvey, cover
its origins, its compilation, and the mixed reactions of astrologers. 2gr 20m
Patron of research
-- A tribute to Charles Harvey 1940-2000. His
eminence within astrology, and his enthusiasm for scientific research,
made him a key figure in the astrology-science debate. But research did
not support his hope that astrology would unite spiritual and material
values. 5gr 12m
Sextus Empiricus's critique
-- c.200 AD this famous Greek physician and
philosopher raised many arguments against astrology, some of which are
still in use today, eg astrological analogies are absurd, births at same
time have different lives, births at different times meet the same end, 15m
Value of astrology
-- In 1910 this London symposium of eight views held
that astrology is a time saver, indicates our strengths and liabilities,
and is clearer than palmistry. It fosters tolerance and compassion, and
must be widely practised to make its value more evident. Wordy. 20m
Objections to Scientific Research With our reply
Are scientists undercover astrologers?
-- The claim that some areas of
science are really astrology in disguise may have been true in the
Middle Ages but is not true today. 20m
Astrologer attacks researchers
-- In 2001 UK astrologer Dennis Elwell
wrote four long articles attacking this website's researchers. He
claimed they were hostile to astrology. Here the researchers summarise
his points, his mistakes, and his apparent inability to be helpful. With
an option to see on another website the original articles with the
researchers' point-by-point response (total 5h). 15m
On Rebunking the Debunkers
-- When astrologers debunk research they
ignore informed critiques, ignore negative studies, and embrace positive
studies no matter how flawed. 20m
Star Wars
-- In 2003 astrologers reacted to negative findings in the
Journal of Consciousness Studies with name-calling and getting it wrong.
Appendices give the JCS abstract and a point-by-point reply to the
critiques of Jonathan Cainer, Frank McGillion, and Vladimir
Gorbatsevich. 20m
Philosophy including Facts vs Values
Astrology as religion
-- The spiritual dimension is a necessary part of
human existence. For many astrologers, astrology is a religion rather
than a science. It enriches their lives and the lives of their clients
in the same way as other people's lives are enriched by Christianity. 4m
Astrology between religion and science
-- The absence of convincing
scientific support for astrological claims makes it difficult to see
astrology except in religious terms. Thus its ideas can be viewed in the
same way as the ideas of life after death, purgatory, karma and
reincarnation. 7m
Guinard's Manifesto
-- Dr Patrice Guinard sees meaning in astrology, and
claims this is because our psyche resonates resonate with the planets.
But his arguments boil down to implausible speculations that are not
supported by empirical studies. In reply Guinard gives a brief brush-off
response. 12m
Rhetoric
-- Satirical guide for astrologers by philosophers. Excerpts
from the Butterflies and Wheels website that will be of value to those
who find logic and science confusing. 2m
Views of modern philosophers
-- In their various books and articles
seventeen modern philosophers argue that astrology is not a source of
reliable knowledge although it can be a source of sympathy and support.
Includes hints on deciding what to believe. 28 references. 12m
Ways of knowing
-- A simple nontechnical account of the divide between
science and spirit, and of ways of knowing. Astrologers look at
astrology from a value viewpoint and conclude that it works. Critics
look at astrology from a factual viewpoint and conclude the opposite. 12
references. 12m
Readers' Comments
On specific topics
-- Gives our replies to the 21 comments received so
far from readers. There are 8 general comments, 3 comments to which
reasoning errors are relevant, 5 comments about astrological forces and
white crows, and 5 questions from a Swedish radio station. 12m
On this website in general
-- We welcome suggestions for improving the
user-friendliness and content of this website. So far there has been
only praise for its impartiality and information content. 2m
Reader's manifesto
-- From Atlanta GA. The author proposes a new
astrology that is nonfalsifiable, nevertheless it leads to falsifiable
hypotheses. Readers were invited to send in a critique. The best could
win a rare signed copy of Recent Advances. None were received so we
provide our own. 2m
Sun signs
History, controversies, validity
-- A comprehensive survey. Astrologers
disagree violently about sun sign columns. Scientific research is
negative but astrologers ignore it. Can sun sign columns be tested in
ways that astrologers will accept? Readers sent in their ideas, see next
item. 45m
Response to above invitation
-- A total of 16 astrologers and 14
scientists responded from a total of nine countries. Suggested tests
were much the same as existing tests, so the existing negative verdict
seems unlikely to change. Includes summaries of their responses. 30m
Love signs
-- Three recent studies with a combined sample size of 27
million couples have failed to find the slightest evidence for sun sign
effects. Lonely hearts (and anybody else including astrologers) who
worry about sun signs are absolutely wasting their time. 6gr 12m
Sachs's Astrology File
Scientific Proof of the Link between Star Signs
and Human Behaviour -- Three reviews of a 1998 best-seller. First shows
how flaws in reasoning make results meaningless. Second re-analyses
Sachs's data and finds no support for claims. Third finds many
statistical errors. 30m
True Confessions
-- My girlfriend has a large immediate family, all of
whom are firm believers in astrology. At a large family party they rated
sun sign horoscopes as less accurate than ones that (unknown to them)
had been switched by me. This upset them and ruined my love life. 1m
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