Are people stupid for believing in horoscopes and astrology

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I hate the PPR section and avoid it as much as I can, but since this sort of topic has to do with philosophy and religion I thought I'd ask it here. So I've noticed lots, and by lots I mean millions of people around the globe even in America, subscribe to using horoscopes and other astrological portents to give them insight and knowledge of the future; it's become almost a religion for some people. I find it strange since in my entire life I've always assumed that astrology, horoscope and other pseudoscience was understood in the 21st century to be BS but some otherwise intelligent people swear by it and claim that only those who are big brained and smart enough can see the wisdom and utility of these esoteric arts. I haven't found any online studies or academic paper verifying the statistical prowess of these hidden arts being able to accurately predict any better than controls, however given how popular and even ubiquitous the hidden arts are among niches of people I wonder if there is some method to this madness or if I'm being duped by the fallacy of popularity and placebos+confirmation bias of those who do use these methods and it works.

For me I've never believed in star signs because my star sign is the total opposite of my personality and disposition, but people keep telling me I'm lying and that star sign - when interpreted by a trained astrologer - actually does contain meaning and not noise as we are told by scientists. In my strongest conviction I don't believe nor doubt that all of this is quackery and fluff conflating noise with signal, but I just wanted to hear the opinions of the people of WP since the people here are more knowledgeable and logical so I thought maybe your expertise would be helpful.

I follow my horoscope every now and then, but I don't live my life by it. Those people are nuts who won't go outside if their horoscope says not to. Some of the predictions are kind of accurate, and I like looking at the horoscope from the previous day and be like, "Oh yeah. Yesterday was kind of like that." As far as star signs, I believe their highly accurate. It's because of what month you were born in. You're extremely impressionable when a baby and you take in your surroundings and everyone's general feeling. For example, I'm a Leo, born July 25th. My first experiences of life was around people who are in their best mood because it's the middle of summer. That correlates to how I am and how Leos are. I'm an extremely happy and kind person and take on a lot of traits of Leo (and Leo doesn't mean you're super cocky. That's a common misconception of the sign). Of course, there's a good amount of people who may not be like their sign, such as you.

Astrology as a basis for how one lives one’s life, to me, is absurd.

I know some decent people who sort of live by it, though.

I used to make a modest living performing the Tarot scam -- and the key word here is perform. It's all a scam designed to separate seekers from their money.

And there is a seeker born every minute.

Thus far, neither, the Stanford Ninety IQ test, nor any other IQ test, contains horoscopes or astrology

Astrology could later be defined as part of a religion

Or astrology could later be defined as a delusion

Usually horoscopes are so vague they could apply to anything

Thus far, based on the DSM and IQ test, belief in astrology has nothing to do with mental illness or IQ

The DSM and IQ tests change every couple of years





Having said that, I don't believe in astrology or horoscopes

There is an irresistible romantic attraction to the notion of shuffling the cards and casting one's fate, to putting one's cards on the table for all to see, to drawing into the unknown, to having one's life laid out and explained by strangers who allegedly have the gift of prophesy, to gamble on the future, and so on.  The idea of staring at a picture on a pressed-paper card and letting it reveal the future or mirror the soul is not one that austere critics are likely to find tantalizing, but the thought of such visionary mysticism obviously has its attraction.  Centuries of scientific advancement and learning have not diminished the popularity of occult guidance systems such as the Tarot.  The only 'mystery' involved is why anyone's fate or fortune would be contained in a deck of playing cards.

Divination is the attempt to foretell the future or discover occult knowledge by interpreting omens or by using alleged paranormal or supernatural powers.  Most forms of divination rely on magical thinking, apophenia (finding meaning in meaningless patterns), confirmation bias*, and pareidolia (seeing distinct forms in vague and random patterns).

*Confirmation bias refers to a type of selective thinking whereby one tends to notice and to look for what confirms one's beliefs, and to ignore, not look for, or undervalue the relevance of what contradicts one's beliefs.

I feel like people like astrology for similar reasons---as people like religion.

They are looking to make sense of the "unknown." To make the random predictable in some way.

People are afraid of chaos, of vagueness, of unpredictability.

No, they aren't stupid. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and their interests. This is an ancient practice developed by early astronomers, mathematicians and philosophers. They may be "wrong", but that doesn't give anyone the right to call them stupid.

Many people involved with alchemy were actually very intelligent individuals.

Hahah astrology and anything to do with occult is like a special interest to me. Maybe it's because i'm a pessimistic whiny and stubborn capricorn but who knows. I've always identified with the zodiac sign capricorn but of course not everyone will fit their sign. I guess i just like the various symbolism and myths associated with each sign.

Did you know that the real zodiac has 13 signs, and not 12?  It's true!  Even the Babylonians knew this.  Here is the Babylonian Zodiac (based on a mean tropical year* of 365 days)

• 15 May to 21 June (38 days): Taurus ("Bull")
• 22 June to 20 July (28 days): Gemini ("Twins")
• 21 July to 10 August (21 days): Cancer ("Crab")
• 11 August to 16 September (37 days): Leo ("Lion")
• 17 September to 31 October (45 days): Virgo ("Virgin")
• 01 November to 23 November (23 days): Libra ("Scales")
• 24 November to 29 November (6 days): Scorpio ("Scorpion")
• 30 November to 18 December (20 days): Ophiuchus ("Serpent-Bearer")
• 19 December to 20 January (33 days): Sagittarius ("Centaur-Archer")
• 21 January to 16 February (27 days): Capricorn ("Goat-Fish")
• 17 February to 12 March (24 days): Aquarius ("Water-Bearer")
• 13 March to 18 April (37 days): Pisces ("Fishes")
• 19 April to 14 May (26 days): Aries ("Ram")

Why was the zodiac later divided into only 12 "houses"? Speculation abounds from triskadecaphobia to the fact that it is simpler to draw a circle with twelve spokes than one with thirteen.

I've always been drawn to female friends born in May, and men born in September or November.

Are you referring to the New Age zodiac of 12 "houses", or the original Babylonian zodiac of 13 "houses"?

Me?

I grew up knowing about the 12 houses. My female friends were invariably born in May (some Taurus but even more Gemini), all the way back to when I was five years old and went to birthday parties. My favourite men are September (Virgo or Libra) or else late November Sagittarius. I don't get on with Scorpios of either gender (early Nov).

Whether using 12 or 13 houses, those birthdates just always appear in my life. I don't ever forget birthdays because of my synaesthesia. I can go through May, September, and November date by date, and name multiple people I've admired from the time I was little until now. I know multiple people from certain birthdates, especially 5 May.

You were a cancer if i remember correctly and that means you get along well with Taurus, Virgo and Libras! (signs that are born in the months you mentioned!)

My birthday is 21 June. I'm on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer in the 12 month arrangement.

Thanks. That's really interesting, and it's true! ^ I love Sag as well, though.

Ha --- just realised my new beau is a Libra.

Last edited by IsabellaLinton on 14 Jan 2020, 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.