Merci beaucoup. This general sentiment seems way too rare both on the Internet and in everyday culture. I might want to quote this during Science Week (stevebarnes.org/science-week) next year.
@daringfireball I mean, it’s an article about astrology. The title literally reads “How The April 8 Solar Eclipse In Aries Will Affect Your Zodiac Sign.” It seems foolish to read such an article and complain about the fact that it “celebrates” astrology. The referenced aside also happens to be true, which makes your complaints—especially the apparent strength of the complaints—even more puzzling.
@gruber It’s curious that you elided the modifier “ancient.” This one aside in the article is the only mention of any kind of astronomer in the entire article and it specifically—and accurately—discusses ancient astronomers. You seem to be going out of your way to project onto this article some kind of statement about modern astronomy. It’s simply not there. (1/2)
@santry Part of the new age hand-wavy nonsense is the nonsensical belief that “the ancients” had wisdom that we’ve somehow lost. The unstated insinuation is that those ancient astronomers knew something today’s don’t about a relationship with astrology.
@daringfireball Kepler was an astrologer because it paid his bills, not because he believed any of it. Similarly, old Egyptian priests put a mystical shroud over their science to keep their power, not because they believed otherwise.
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