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In article <24lsn3$…@transfer.stratus.com> t…@sw.stratus.com (Tarl Neustaedter) writes:
>Massive cross-posting modified to follow into one group
>In article <CBs2y6….@newsflash.concordia.ca>, grog…@cs.concordia.ca (Peter Grogono) writes:
>>> scientific medicine vs alternative, astronomy replacing astrology
>> There are several rather doubtful arguments here. Has astronomy "well and truly
>> replaced astrology"? There are more astrologers than astronomers; the best
>As an amateur astronomer, the concept of astrology competing with astronomy
>in today’s world rather takes my breath away.
>But the more I think about it, the analogy with alternative medicine is
>exact, and I thank you for pointing it out to me. It is an analogy I will
>keep in mind for future discussions on alternative medicine. Both astrology
>and alternative medicines are systems of belief which rely on tradition
>rather than investigation, and are unfriendly to objective analysis.
There’s one place where the analogy breaks down–I think that most
astrology is used for entertainment–at least the people I know read
newspaper astrology for amusement, not guidance.
As far as I can tell, some people in alternative medicine welcome
testing, and others don’t.
>Astronomy and Medicine have historical roots in the older "disciplines",
>but have diffentiated themselves by attempting to measure, quantify, explain
>and predict behaviour in their fields of study. This has led them in far
>different directions than they started out from. In both fields (like all
>science), the sole standard of validity is how reliable and accurate the
>predictions are. In the predecessor fields, different standards apply, and
>thus don’t qualify as science.
Also, while there’s some risk involved, I think testing an alternative
remedy on oneself is still testing, even though it isn’t as rigorous
as scientific testing.
>If we get a sci.med.alternative, I’ll feel compelled to propose
>sci.astro.astrology and sci.physics.flat-earth.
If it amuses you, go for it.
–
Nancy Lebovitz calligraphic button catalogue available by email (170K)
na…@genie.slhs.udel.edu