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Astrology and Science -- Gravitation

translation by L. Blake Finley. M.A., ABD-2

·        Gravitation: Francis Santoni

·        Might gravitation exert an indirect effect?: Suzel Fuzeau-Braesch

Gravitation

·        A conventional astronomical point of view. 
Conventional astronomy recognized the significance of gravitation and at the same time accused astrologers of ignoring it.  Astrologers were said to not take into account the distance of the planets, to not recognize that Pluto, as a far distant planet, could not have the same degree of influence as the closer, larger planets.  From this standpoint, gravitation was presented not only as a law, but as a causal factor.

·        The astrologer's response.
For the astrologer, physical distance is of relatively little significance in this matter.  By analogy, a close relative has a strong influence on you, regardless of his or her physical size or place of residence -- he or she is sometimes even more influential than a rather physically large next-door neighbor.  Thus astrologers scorn arguments based solely on physical gravitational factors, and which ignore principles of more subtle influences which trigger such factors as psychological impact.  In astrology, the influence of a planet is determined by its angular relation to the individual under its influence far more than by its distance from the individual.

·        At the beginning of his Principia, Sir Isaac Newton took great pains to make it clearly understood that he did not use the word "attraction" in a physical sense such as exemplified by the force that bodies exert on each other.  For him, it was a mathematical concept, aside from physical or primordial causes.  In a passage from his Principia, he clearly stated that, considered from a physical point of view, attraction is in essence more like mechanical impulse.  In section XI of his book (introduction) he states that "there is a certain subtle phenomenon through which force and activity determine the movements of physical matter" ... "gravitation would be triggered by an agent which intervenes continually and due to certain laws".

·        Leibnitz defined his principle of attraction as an "inexplicable, non-material phenomenon".

·        Just as classical mechanics did not directly treat the concept of subatomic particles, it is erroneous to compare the movement of electrons around an atomic nucleus to that of planets around the Sun.  It is further inappropriate to explain everything simply by gravitational factors, even in scholarly astronomical texts promoting bias against astrology.

 In sum:

·        Gravitation as it is presented by mainstream traditional physics is not a significant component of astrological hypotheses.

Francis Santoni

Might gravitation exert an indirect effect ?

 By means of sunspots:

·        "astronomical studies such as those by M. Treillis and K.D. & R.M. Wood demonstrate the gravitational effects of the planets around the Sun on its own internal functions, particularly those which lead to the manifestation of sunspots, (and few would doubt our dependency on the great star at the center of our planetary system.)"

Suzel Fuzeau-Braesch  

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