RE: virus: Logic

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Wed, 15 Oct 1997 10:08:36 -0700 (PDT)


On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, Ken Kittlitz wrote:

> At 04:38 PM 10/9/97 -0700, Richard B. wrote:
>
> >What harm could come to them by believing in astrology? How could harboring
> >such a belief help them? (hint: something to do with relationships)
>
> Two examples of possible harm:
>
> -I back out of an important business trip in another city because my
> horoscope advises me that today is not a good day for travel.

This is counter-example of the predictive power of astrology. The
question was one of personalities, better addressed by:

> -I meet an interesting woman and we hit it off, but after finding that our
> astrological signs clash, we realize that, despite our feelings to the
> contrary, there's no way that the relationship could work.

I meet an interesting woman and we hit it off, but after meeting her
parents I realize that they are black/jews/nazis/commies/Objectivests/etc,
I realize that, despite our feelings to the contrary, there's no way that
the relationship could work.

In both examples (yours and mine) the problem is one of your priorities.
If astrology is more important to you than your feelings, than astrology
is a detriment to you (although, again, the failing is in your priorities,
not in astrology).

The same is true if you put logic before your feelings as well.

-Prof. Tim