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| '''Kepler College''' is an |
'''Kepler College of Astrological Arts and Sciences''' is an ] online institution of higher learning devoted to ]. It is located in ] and is named after ]. Currently, it is approved by the ], but lacks accreditation from groups approved by the ]. {{unaccredited|Kepler College}} | ||
| {{unaccredited|Kepler College}} | |||
| ==Criticism and controversy== | ==Criticism and controversy== | ||
| ], chancellor of ] wrote, "The promoters of Kepler College have honored Kepler not for his strength but for his weakness, as if a society advocating drunkenness named a school for ]." Silber noted, "The fact is that astrology, whether judged by its theory or its practice, is bunkum. In a free society there is no reason to prevent those who wish to learn nonsense from finding teachers who want to make money peddling nonsense. But it is inexcusable for the government to certify teachers of nonsense as competent or to authorize - that is, endorse - the granting of degrees in nonsense." The vice provost for research at the ], ], called the school "Ludicrous" because "If I set up a college of tae kwon do, would they approve it? ... What if we had a college of quack medicine?" | ], chancellor of ] wrote, "The promoters of Kepler College have honored Kepler not for his strength but for his weakness, as if a society advocating drunkenness named a school for ]." Silber noted, "The fact is that astrology, whether judged by its theory or its practice, is bunkum. In a free society there is no reason to prevent those who wish to learn nonsense from finding teachers who want to make money peddling nonsense. But it is inexcusable for the government to certify teachers of nonsense as competent or to authorize - that is, endorse - the granting of degrees in nonsense." The vice provost for research at the ], ], called the school "Ludicrous" because "If I set up a college of tae kwon do, would they approve it? ... What if we had a college of quack medicine?" | ||
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| In answer to the above, I would ask what better place to study the phenomena of astrology than in a college? Astology has a very long history and is currently practiced worldwide. If colleges can give degrees to study other historical or modern sociological trends, why should astrology be excluded from that list? As the Kepler College's catalog states - "In academic circles, it is commonly understood that one cannot fully understand the object of study without participating in it. Composition instructors teach “best practices”, but it is not until the student has the actual experience of writing that the concepts are integrated into understanding. In the history of astronomy, those who specialize in scientific instruments are expected to be acquainted with the use of those instruments. Those who specialize in mathematics are expected to be skilled enough to reproduce and investigate the computations that they undertake to study. Hence, it is vital for students of the history and anthropology of astrology to have an experience of astrological techniques as part of their liberal arts curriculum." | |||
| "There are many precedents for the Kepler College curriculum. Students at the Warburg Institute at London University are, in some classes, expected to cast and read horoscopes as part of their study of Renaissance hermeticism. Other courses which include both the insider and outsider critical examination include: “Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness” at California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California; “Mythological Studies ”at Pacifica University, Carpinteria, California; and “Study of Western Esotericism” at the University of Wales, Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales. At Brown University in Rhode Island, HM0013, “History of Astrology and History of Science” is offered with the goals: “1. To gain knowledge of the role of astrology and its development in the context of world intellectual history; 2. To improve awareness and understanding of the natural phenomena that earlier societies regarded as inseparable from astrological practice…; and 3. To think critically about the meaning of the concept of ‘science ’…”. At Columbia University in New York, HSME W3013, “Science and Astrological Theories in Pre-Modern Times” is offered which encompasses, “The development of astrological theories from ancient Babylonia till late medieval times and their impact on the formalization of scientific concepts”. At Haverford College in Pennsylvania, “History of the Occult and Witchcraft” is offered where students explore, “… today’s misconceptions of astrology…” disproved by clear evidence that many pioneers of science, such as Kepler and Galileo, were experienced practitioners of astrology which they learned as “core” curriculum in the medieval university." | |||
| In addition to liberal arts courses such as history and literature, and courses in scientific research methods, AA and BA students have four terms which specifically focus on multiple astrological techniques from different eras and different cultures. Thus students can more accurately compare and contrast how different techniques developed, their transmission between cultures, and analyze the similarities and differences between their use in antiquity and in modern times. The focus is primarily on the Western European and the Vedic traditions, although other traditions, such as the Chinese, are touched upon. Students also have the opportunity to learn Hellenistic Greek, Latin or Sanskrit, so they can read the original texts. This gives students a solid academic base from which to critically examine the controversies surrounding astrology's use from both an insider and outsider perspective. | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 19:09, 4 September 2006
Kepler College of Astrological Arts and Sciences is an unaccredited online institution of higher learning devoted to astrology. It is located in Seattle, WA and is named after Johannes Kepler. Currently, it is approved by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, but lacks accreditation from groups approved by the US Department of Education. Kepler College is not accredited by any accreditation body recognized by its country. According to the US Department of Education, unaccredited degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.
Criticism and controversy
John Silber, chancellor of Boston University wrote, "The promoters of Kepler College have honored Kepler not for his strength but for his weakness, as if a society advocating drunkenness named a school for Ernest Hemingway." Silber noted, "The fact is that astrology, whether judged by its theory or its practice, is bunkum. In a free society there is no reason to prevent those who wish to learn nonsense from finding teachers who want to make money peddling nonsense. But it is inexcusable for the government to certify teachers of nonsense as competent or to authorize - that is, endorse - the granting of degrees in nonsense." The vice provost for research at the University of Washington, Alvin Kwiram, called the school "Ludicrous" because "If I set up a college of tae kwon do, would they approve it? ... What if we had a college of quack medicine?"
See also
External links
- Kepler College – Official website
- Seattle Times – Article
- Seattle Weekly– Article