Does Astrology Have Any Scientific Basis?
I know that modern science will never be able to scientifically prove astrology for as long as I live. So rather than making a statement, I’m just going to discuss why modern science can’t validate astrology, but astrology still possesses huge research meaning and value.
Integrity vs Bias
The research of material science emphasizes on the collection and rational analysis of data. If we were to say that such a research method is suitable for all kinds of research targets, it would be a biased statement. Firstly, not everything can be quantified, such as creativity and love. Secondly, material science can’t satisfy the deeper needs of human. Although it can bring about convenience and comfort for our everyday lives, such as high speed rails, computers, telephones etc., it is unable to satisfy our spiritual and inner needs. Thirdly, the development of world civilization has widened the gap between us and the natural world. This phenomenon has caused human to deny the integrity of the universe. This can be reflected in the ecological crisis that we are facing right now, which has resulted from a lack of understanding of the overall ecosystem by human.
Since astrology is the study of how people should blend in with the universe and the law of nature, and to go with the flow in order to achieve better growth, the denial of integrity by modern people has led to them not believing in astrology. Does age-old wisdom really need to be proven by modern science in order to be valid? In other words, just because Western science can’t fully prove the theory of Chinese medicine, does that mean Chinese medicine is ineffective?
Nature vs. Nurture
John Bowlby’s attachment theory is currently one of the most popular theories in the field of child psychology and growth. The basis of the theory is that the connection and interaction between a child and his caregiver is an important factor in deciding the child’s behavioral development in the future.Between the age of zero and five, when children receive adequate love and care from their caregivers, they will have more courage to explore and discover more about this world. On the contrary, if they lack security, they would avoid this world instead. Such a pattern will continue until the children become adults. In modern psychological terms, this is called nurture, whereby the environment that a person grows up in will be a deciding factor in his growth.
However, there is also another kind of situation in reality. It has been observed that some children are born to be livelier and more active, whereas others are shier and more introverted; some are more stubborn while others are more flexible. This is the temperament theory as suggested by Carl Jung, which states that every child is born into this world with his own unique character.They will interact with this world in their own unique way, this is called the nature theory. Parents with more than two children will definitely understand what I’m talking about.
It is not possible to prove the nature theory with modern science, but it definitely exists. There is still no conclusion to the ongoing nature vs. nurture debate. From an astrological perspective, every person’s unique traits are reflected by their birth charts, but at the same time, astrology is the study of people’s life journey and cycles, so the challenges and opportunities that people might face in their later development can also be observed from the astrolabe.
Challenges Posed by Quantum Physics for Research Targets
All scientific research requires research targets. In order for us to obtain accurate data, it is necessary for our research targets to remain constant so that we can accurately measure different hypotheses. However, along with the development of quantum physics, this has become impossible as our research has led to the minimization of units for all matter, such as atoms and electrons. Since they are extremely light in mass, these particles are constantly in motion. Even the tiniest and lightest measuring instrument is unable to measure them. Once the measuring instrument discovers them, they would escape.This proves that it is impossible for research targets to remain constant and not be affected by observers. In other words, it is proven that research conducted on research targets cannot be fully accurate. This has broken the theory of traditional physics, so the target of observation cannot exist in independence of the observer. The target of observation and the observer is a unified whole.This idea of a unified whole is also evident in different philosophies and religions. For example, Taoism promotes living in harmony with “the Way”, Buddhism emphasizes on the inexistence of oneself, Para Vidya as practiced in Hinduism etc. Although I’m not sure what the future trend of scientific development might be, it is certain that the current research methods won’t be able to fully prove and validate astrology.
In conclusion, the reason why astrology has gained such a negative reputation in the scientific and academic fields over the past decades is because the majority of astrologists have emphasized on foretelling and making predictions, rather than focusing on a person’s inner life. Using astrology as a tool for self-development and achievement should be the direction for modern astrology.