> Hi Ed,
>
> At 08:31 13/08/01 -0400, you wrote:
> >As for the woman at the Sorbonne who wrote the thesis on astrology, I
would
> >be curious about what she wrote on. For example, perhaps she is a social
> >historian interested in the role astrology played in peoples lives or in
the
> >decisions made by the ruling classes. I doubt very much that she was
> >granted a degree in astrology, but then I suppose anything is possible
these
> >days.
>
> More details (according to The Times):
> <<<<
> A number of French scientists have joined a call for Mme Teisser's
> doctorate to be revoked. They have poured scorn on her 900-page thesis,
> entitled "The epistemological situation of astrology through ambivalence
> fascination/rejection in post-modern societies."
> >>>>
>
> . . . and here's a bit more:
> <<<<
> Bernard Lahire, Professor of Sociology at the elite �cole Normale
> Sup�rieure, said in his report of the affair: "It is not that this is a
bad
> sociological thesis. It is one that has a total absence of sociology in
it.
> It only defends the point of view of the astrologer and lacks anything
that
> can be called scientific. . . . [The Sorbonne has become] a refuge for
> lecturers without rigour and who are sometimes explicitly anti-rational."
> >>>>
Well, it does sound pretty bad, but I would remind you that academics are
notorious for slinging mud at each other. They pretend to be oh so
rational, but when the chips are down, they reveal themselves to be very
human, even simian. Some years ago, I attended a very learned conference in
which people wound up shouting across the room at each other, each shouter
telling the others that "We must be rational about this!!"
I guess bad sociology is bad sociology, but I find the question of what role
astrology continues to play in our lives an interesting one. My wife is
well educated, but continues to read her horoscope (and mine) with more than
passing interest. My ex-son-in-law earned some of his income by hanging
around a coffee shop and reading Tarot cards for people. He had quite a few
clients. I don't know if this is the kind of thing the lady wrote about,
but we cannot really dismiss the role that things arcane continue to play in
our lives.
> Oh, and there was something else about Mme Teissier -- she once advised
> President Mitterand on the conduct of the Gulf War.
Well, that is very bad!
> So help us!
I agree, absolutely.
Ed Weick
