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Old 03-06-2011, 07:57 AM   #36
Jadykeery

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
394
Senior Member
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Dear Shri KRS,

.... You did not say, let us look at this phenomenon with an open mind - your mind refuses to accept anything beyond the currently known physical science.
Well, it is true that I have closed my mind about certain things, but I disagree that it was never open.

It is also presented as though the astrologers are not forthcoming to be subjected to any 'controlled study' of the discipline. Actually the issue is the reverse - no scientist wants to undertake such a study As one trained in science I am surprised you are saying this. Scientists are required to do nothing that does not interest them. It is up to the interested people to make it happen. With thousands of crores of rupees in their coffers, I don't know why one of the religious mathams that believe in this sort of thing fund such a study and show it to the skeptics that it really works.

, because there is apprehension on two fronts: 1. What if the study finds a correlation and 2. The reputation of such a scientist amongst the generally non believing, scientific community who do not believe in such 'superstitions'. They do not want to give any credence to the discipline, instead dismissing the discipline as 'not based on science'. I was trained as a scientist, so I know. Again, this is surprising coming from one trained as a scientist. Of course, the scientific community will reject unsubstantiated claims, like the one about Mayandi Swamigal, but if you demonstrate using valid statistical procedures and replicate it, people will take notice and it will no longer be mere superstition. But this can come only from true believers. A non-believer has two things going against him/her (i) proving a negative is impossible and (ii) even if they show it does not work in one study, the believers will go on believing, nothing will be achieved.

I know there was an adjustment made to the zodiac signs, but AFAIK, it was not about the validity or untenability of astrology in general.


He has already stated when he started this thread that he will account for certain things based on BELIEF. Yet you seem to think that it is wrong to write such stories. I think it is wrong to write them as facts.

Science has it's limitations. It is not a holy grail, and scientists are aware of this than anyone else. I have said this many times, science is not complete and it may never be complete. Taking a cue from Mahakavi, ஆயிரம் உண்டிங்கு சந்தேகம், எனில் மூடநம்பிக்கை ஆமோ விவேகம்.

I make a promise to you Shri KRS, if astrology or psychic power or any other supernatural claims is methodically shown to be true to the satisfaction of the scientific community, I will have no hesitation offering an unconditional apology to all of you and even support the advancement of these fields.

Cheers!
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