Are horoscopes legitimate? Do they ever come true?

Horoscopes and astrology, in general, are not considered legitimate from a scientific perspective for several reasons:

Lack of Scientific Validity

Astrology has been extensively tested and has failed to meet the criteria of scientific validity. Numerous studies and experiments have shown that astrological predictions are no more accurate than chance alone. For example, the Carlson test, which involved 28 astrologers matching natal charts to psychological profiles, found that the predictions were no better than chance1.

Falsifiability and Empirical Evidence

Astrology does not adhere to the principle of falsifiability, a key criterion for distinguishing science from pseudoscience. Astrologers often avoid making verifiable predictions and instead rely on vague statements that cannot be tested or falsified. When specific predictions have been tested in rigorous experiments, they have consistently failed to show any significant effect1.

Consistency and Agreement Among Astrologers

There is a lack of consistency and agreement among astrologers. Studies have shown that the degree of agreement among astrologers' predictions is very low, indicating that there is no unified or reliable method in astrology1.

Theoretical Flaws

Astrology faces several theoretical obstacles, including the lack of a plausible mechanism by which the positions of stars and planets could influence human affairs. Additionally, there are discrepancies such as the precession of the equinoxes, which astrologers often ignore, further undermining the validity of their claims1.

Psychological Factors

Belief in astrology is often influenced by psychological factors such as confirmation bias and the Barnum effect. People tend to remember predictions that seem true and ignore those that are false, and they often accept vague personality descriptions as accurate because they are general enough to apply to a wide range of people1.

Scientific Consensus

The scientific community overwhelmingly rejects astrology as a pseudoscience due to its lack of progress, refusal to deal with critical scientific studies, and failure to provide any empirical evidence supporting its claims14.

In summary, horoscopes do not have any scientific legitimacy, and their predictions do not come true in a way that can be reliably or consistently verified. They are generally viewed as a form of entertainment rather than a serious predictive tool.