Re: (Tears) Fads and Fallacies by Martin Gardner

On Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:57:40 -0000 (UTC), Charles Packer
<mailbox@cpacker.org> wrote:

On Sun, 28 Apr 2024 13:06:32 +0000, James Nicoll wrote:
>

Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science by Martin Gardner
 
A survey of an era overrun by cranks, charlatans, and legions of
wilfully gullible fools. A bit off topic, but significant SF figures
appear in the text.
 
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/all-the-madmen

>
Was there no chapter on astrology?

Apparently, it was about /modern/ weirdness, not about traditional
weirdness.

Even Aquinas, who expressed doubts about astrology in general, was
aware that at least /one/ "heavenly body" clearly and undeniably
affects the Earth.

As, of course, does the Sun as well. But Aquinas didn't note that.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"