People who believe in astrology often cite their personal experiences with valid predictions.?

Question

They have "faith" in the astrologer's ability to predict events based on the positions of celestial objects. What is your reaction to this "faith/it works for me" argument?

Answer 1

They remember when it was true and forget when it wasn't. We believe what we want to and excuse any inconsistencies.

Answer 2

Positive bias. The times that a prediction seems to come true, that sticks out in peoples' minds. All the times predictions don't pan out are quickly forgotten. The result is that astrology or horoscopes can seem to work, when in fact they are no better than random chance would predict.

This is one reason why personal testimonials (anecdotal evidence) are not considered to be proof of something.

Also, many horoscopes are worded in such a way that they can be broadly applied to a lot of people, and/or subject to different interpretations by different people.

Answer 3

The absolutely perfect, A-#1 example of why anecdotal evidence doesn't qualify and can never be considered as scientific data.

We know that astrology doesn't work, and we know people personally believe in it. Therefore, people's personal beliefs are completely unreliable indicators of the way the world works.

Answer 4

This is not a valid argument for basing ones decisions and actions upon. It's no different than a religious claim.

The "it works for me" line really means, "it APPEARS to work for me because I only remember the times when is coincidentally does work - and even if it doesn't work out, I can usually reinterpret the initial premise so that it fits my predetermined beliefs."

Answer 5

Simply to pass them off as naive and ignorent to believe in such hocus pocus. The Earth was flat once also...
It is just ostrich like head in the sand mentality to have faith in shonks.

Answer 6

It proves you can believe anything if you want to. But this has nothing to do with astronomy which is only based on observation and scientific theory.