Passage 6 – In Defense of Astrology

1[Astrology needs to be taken more seriously as an art and science that can contribute to human well-being.] 2[A great deal of evidence points to the truth of astrology.]

3[Astrology has been practiced for over six thousand years], and 4[millions of people have based their lives and life choices on it.] 5[Until the eighteenth century, astrology was even used as a form of medical diagnosis.] 6[Its diagnoses and prescriptions were considered at the time to be far more reliable and efficacious than those of the medical practitioners of the time.]

7[Since the middle of the twentieth century, countless scientific studies that have ultimately supported the basic principles of astrology have …show more content…

1. Astrology has been practiced for over six thousand years.
2. Millions of people have based their lives and life choices on it.
3. Until the eighteenth century, astrology was even used as a form of medical diagnosis.
4. Its diagnoses and prescriptions were considered at the time to be far more reliable and efficacious than those of the medical practitioners of the time.
∴ Astrology should be considered a truth

→ This argument is non-deductive because the conclusion does not necessarily follow the premises, even if the premises were true.
→ This argument is based on what was historically accepted and relies on the fact that historically people accepted astrology so they should do it in the present as well.
→ The argument would be better presented if they weighed some of the reasons why astrology is no longer as widely practiced.

Argument 2

The “we studied” argument asserts that several scientific studies have been conducted to support that there is truth to astrological claims.

→ This is an inductive argument. Even if all premises are true where the studies were conducted. It is still possible that astrology as a whole should not be a truth.
→ A stronger argument would examine and mention studies that did not support astrology as true and then weigh the differences.
→ The