Listen "Astrology"
Episode Synopsis
Astrology. Dangerous pseudoscience? Comforting salve in a cold capitalist world? Subjugated knowledge? It's all fun and games when you're looking up your Co-Star horoscope, but according to philosopher Theodor Adorno, even a playful belief in astrology encourages submission to the status quo--and promotes fascist thinking. In this can't-miss episode 32, Ellie and David discuss the psychological appeal of astrology, which is experiencing a huge resurgence today. They also dive deep into the history and science behind the practice. Did you know Johannes Kepler was an astrologer? Or that your star sign is...probably not actually your sign? The episode also gets into the Barnum Effect, and some surprising similarities between astrology, weather forecasts, and personality tests. Works discussed:Theodor Adorno, The Stars Down to EarthNicholas Campion, History of Western AstrologyRoger Beck, A Brief History of Ancient AstrologyThomas Kuhn, The Copernican RevolutionAlexander Boxer, A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for our Destiny in DataSilvia Federici, Caliban and the WitchColin Koopman, How We Became Our DataBertram Forer, "The fallacy of personal validation: A classroom demonstration of gullibility"Support the showSubstack | overthinkpod.substack.com Website | overthinkpodcast.comInstagram & Twitter | @overthink_podEmail | [email protected] | Overthink podcast
More episodes of the podcast Overthink
Neighbors
16/09/2025
Black Women's Magic with Lindsey Stewart
09/09/2025
Post-Truth
26/08/2025
Burnout
12/08/2025
Travel
29/07/2025
Weirdness with Eric Schwitzgebel
15/07/2025
Air
01/07/2025
Earth
17/06/2025
Water
03/06/2025
Fire
20/05/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.