Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 How not to win the acceptance and praise of the scientific world? India has given us so many great mathematicians, philosophers, physicians, and academics in general, that this news item grieves us. Murali Manohar Joshi is the Science Minister of India. He was formerly the Union Human Resources Development Minister, and in November of last year was photographed kissing the feet of Satya Sai Baba, the most popular "god-man" of that continent, of whom we have written here before. As a result, I think that we can accept this man's commitment to naivety. Now, Minister Joshi has announced that thirty-five of that country's two hundred universities must set up "science degree" courses in astrology. Joshi, a physicist and a prominent figure in the ruling political party, is said to believe that ancient Sanskrit writings, the Vedas and Upanishads, hold the key to all scientific knowledge. The classes in Jyotir Vigyan - astrological science, in Sanskrit - will begin this year. India's leading scientists have condemned the decree, arguing that the country's scientific credibility will be eroded. Professor Pushpa Bhargava, a leading Indian biologist, told Nature magazine that there is no justification for spending huge amounts of scarce research and education money on the pseudoscience called Vedic astrology. But it appears that no one in authority is heeding these rational objections. Science Minister Joshi's decision is supported by the Indian University Grants Commission, which says that astrology qualifies as a science "because it needs probing investigation and research." No it doesn't. It's claptrap, always has been claptrap, and has been shown to be claptrap. Or will India now announce that Claptrap itself should be considered a science - because it "needs probing investigation and research"? Can you become a CD - a Doctor of Claptrap - at Indian universities, now? Astrology in India - as all over the world - has been spectacularly wrong, though of course no amount of failure will ever damage a thoroughly entrenched mythology, as we've seen so often throughout history. I recall that after long contemplation of their ancient art, the astrologers of India agreed that on February 3rd, 1962, at exactly 5:35 p.m., life on Earth would end. Though there was no noticeable abandonment of personal property on the part of the soothsayers themselves, businesses nationwide were closed, sacrificial fires lit up the night across the continent, and panic set in among the general populace. The next day - surprise, surprise - the sun rose on a world that still maintained its belief in astrology, and minor mumblings about alibis, rationalizations, and excuses, were soon heard no more. Hey, are we doing much better? Real PhDs here in the USA have declared the reality of ghosts, of alien abductions, of powers of dowsing, and of "free energy" systems. We're catching up on India, rapidly. -- We've received an application to our JREF challenge from Russia which reads simply and directly, which is at least a refreshing change from the usual rambling descriptions we labor over. Though the writer initially addresses the message to "Mr. James Andy," he continues.... Dear James Randy! I send you the signed contract about our joint work. The 1st work is "Recognition of the white and black colors". Put one black piece of paper in one envelope, the white one in another envelope, mix them. Then facing north put one envelope to the left and the 2nd to the right of You and call up 2-12-51. I'll answer You from Taganrog what color is the piece of the paper in each envelope. The experiment takes place 10-12 times, the positive result is achieved if the percentage of recognition is >50%. Yours truly Eugene Zheleznyak. Mr. Zheleznyak exhibits some naivety about mathematics here. He has a 38% chance of success in 10 guesses, 39% chance in 12 guesses. Not odds I'm about to accept. The question here, as always, is: just what convinces people that they can actually guess such matters better than chance? In this case, it's probably just poor math, but in so many cases we see much more sophisticated people really convinced that they can beat the odds - when a brief visit to Las Vegas would perhaps convert them quickly. I say, "perhaps," because I know these folks. They're firmly locked into delusion, and are doomed to live there forever. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Dear Friends, can some one put light on significance of deblitated AK in rashi chart. especially if AK is Sun ys kamal - paulo mendes vedic astrology Tuesday, November 07, 2006 2:12 PM [vedic astrology] read this How not to win the acceptance and praise of the scientific world? India has given us so many great mathematicians, philosophers, physicians, and academics in general, that this news item grieves us. Murali Manohar Joshi is the Science Minister of India. He was formerly the Union Human Resources Development Minister, and in November of last year was photographed kissing the feet of Satya Sai Baba, the most popular "god-man" of that continent, of whom we have written here before. As a result, I think that we can accept this man's commitment to naivety. Now, Minister Joshi has announced that thirty-five of that country's two hundred universities must set up "science degree" courses in astrology. Joshi, a physicist and a prominent figure in the ruling political party, is said to believe that ancient Sanskrit writings, the Vedas and Upanishads, hold the key to all scientific knowledge. The classes in Jyotir Vigyan - astrological science, in Sanskrit - will begin this year. India's leading scientists have condemned the decree, arguing that the country's scientific credibility will be eroded. Professor Pushpa Bhargava, a leading Indian biologist, told Nature magazine that there is no justification for spending huge amounts of scarce research and education money on the pseudoscience called Vedic astrology. But it appears that no one in authority is heeding these rational objections. Science Minister Joshi's decision is supported by the Indian University Grants Commission, which says that astrology qualifies as a science "because it needs probing investigation and research." No it doesn't. It's claptrap, always has been claptrap, and has been shown to be claptrap. Or will India now announce that Claptrap itself should be considered a science - because it "needs probing investigation and research"? Can you become a CD - a Doctor of Claptrap - at Indian universities, now? Astrology in India - as all over the world - has been spectacularly wrong, though of course no amount of failure will ever damage a thoroughly entrenched mythology, as we've seen so often throughout history. I recall that after long contemplation of their ancient art, the astrologers of India agreed that on February 3rd, 1962, at exactly 5:35 p.m., life on Earth would end. Though there was no noticeable abandonment of personal property on the part of the soothsayers themselves, businesses nationwide were closed, sacrificial fires lit up the night across the continent, and panic set in among the general populace. The next day - surprise, surprise - the sun rose on a world that still maintained its belief in astrology, and minor mumblings about alibis, rationalizations, and excuses, were soon heard no more. Hey, are we doing much better? Real PhDs here in the USA have declared the reality of ghosts, of alien abductions, of powers of dowsing, and of "free energy" systems. We're catching up on India, rapidly. ------------------------- We've received an application to our JREF challenge from Russia which reads simply and directly, which is at least a refreshing change from the usual rambling descriptions we labor over. Though the writer initially addresses the message to "Mr. James Andy," he continues.... Dear James Randy! I send you the signed contract about our joint work. The 1st work is "Recognition of the white and black colors". Put one black piece of paper in one envelope, the white one in another envelope, mix them. Then facing north put one envelope to the left and the 2nd to the right of You and call up 2-12-51. I'll answer You from Taganrog what color is the piece of the paper in each envelope. The experiment takes place 10-12 times, the positive result is achieved if the percentage of recognition is >50%. Yours truly Eugene Zheleznyak. Mr. Zheleznyak exhibits some naivety about mathematics here. He has a 38% chance of success in 10 guesses, 39% chance in 12 guesses. Not odds I'm about to accept. The question here, as always, is: just what convinces people that they can actually guess such matters better than chance? In this case, it's probably just poor math, but in so many cases we see much more sophisticated people really convinced that they can beat the odds - when a brief visit to Las Vegas would perhaps convert them quickly. I say, "perhaps," because I know these folks. They're firmly locked into delusion, and are doomed to live there forever. ------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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