En el número de septiembre de 1975 de The Humanist, una declaración atacando y desacreditando a la astrología fue firmada por 186 científicos de primera línea, incluyendo 18 premios Nobel. Además, esta declaración dio lugar luego a la formación del Comité para la investigación científica de afirmaciones paranormales. La declaración (en inglés):
Scientists in a variety of fields have become concerned about the increased acceptance of astrology in many parts of the world. We, the undersigned–astronomers, astrophysicists, and scientists in other fields–wish to caution the public against the unquestioning acceptance of the predictions and advice given privately and publicly by astrologers. Those who wish to believe in astrology should realize that there is no scientific foundation for its tenets.
In ancient times people believed in the predictions and advice of astrologers because astrology was part and parcel of their magical world view. They looked upon celestial objects as abodes or omens of the gods and, thus, intimately connected with events here on earth; they had no concept of the vast distances from the earth to the planets and stars. Now that these distances can and have been calculated, we can see how infinitesimally small are the gravitational and other effects produced by the distant planets and the far more distant stars. It is simply a mistake to imagine that the forces exerted by stars and planets at the moment of birth can in any way shape our futures. Neither is it true that the position of distant heavenly bodies make certain days or periods more favorable to particular kinds of action, or that the sign under which one was born determines one’s compatibility or incompatibility with other people.
Why do people believe in astrology? In these uncertain times many long for the comfort of having guidance in making decisions. They would like to believe in a destiny predetermined by astral forces beyond their control. However, we must all face the world, and we must realize that our futures lie in ourselves, and not in the stars.
One would imagine, in this day of widespread enlightenment and education, that it would be unnecessary to debunk beliefs based on magic and superstition. Yet, acceptance of astrology pervades modern society. We are especially disturbed by the continued uncritical dissemination of astrological charts, forecasts, and horoscopes by the media and by otherwise reputable newspapers, magazines, and book publishers. This can only contribute to the growth of irrationalism and obscurantism. We believe that the time has come to challenge directly, and forcefully, the pretentious claims of astrological charlatans.
It should be apparent that those individuals who continue to have faith in astrology do so in spite of the fact that there is no verified scientific basis for their beliefs, and indeed that there is strong evidence to the contrary.
Sponsoring Committee
(Affiliations, as of 1975, given for identification only.)
Bart J. Bok, emeritus
Professor of Astronomy
University of Arizona
Lawrence E. Jerome
Science Writer
Santa Clara, California
Paul Kurtz
Professor of Philosophy
SUNY at Buffalo
Signed by 183 others, including 18 Nobel Prizewinners:
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La Contra
El epistemólogo de origen austríaco Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) apunta sobre el tema lo siguiente:
“El juicio de los “186 científicos eminentes” se apoya tanto sobre una antropología antediluviana, sobre la ignorancia de los más recientes resultados de sus propias disciplinas (astronomía, biología, y sus correlativas), como sobre una incapacidad de percibir las implicaciones de los resultados que ellos conocen. Esto muestra hasta qué punto están dispuestos a imponer su autoridad, incluso en los campos donde no tienen ninguna competencia particular”.
El filósofo Patrice Guinard también al respecto:
«La ideología cientifista, heredera del moralismo astrófobo de los teólogos cristianos, legisla en el nombre de sus certezas y de sus prácticas. Normal: ya que sus presupuestos han reemplazado los dogmas de la Iglesia, ya que sus técnicas han invadido nuestros modos de vida, ya que sus discursos se despliegan en los mismos lugares académicos que los de los teólogos cristianos del pasado, y ya que, en fin, hoy no hay ya horizonte espiritual fuera de la ciencia como en la época medieval no lo había fuera del cristianismo.»
Astrología Experimental 
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