flat Earth

flat Earth. The concept that the Earth is shaped as a plane or disk, rather than an oblate spheroid, is an ancient cosmological idea. It has been conclusively disproven by millennia of astronomy, geodesy, and spaceflight, yet persists as a modern pseudoscience and conspiracy theory. Contemporary belief is often tied to religious fundamentalism, scientific denialism, and distrust of established institutions like NASA.

Historical context

Ancient civilizations, including those in Mesopotamia and early Greece, often depicted the world as a flat disk floating in a cosmic ocean. This view is reflected in the cosmologies of Homer and Hesiod. The spherical Earth model gained prominence among Greek philosophers like Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle, whose empirical observations of lunar eclipses and changing constellations provided early evidence. The geocentric, spherical model was mathematically formalized by Claudius Ptolemy in his Almagest, dominating Western science through the Middle Ages. Contrary to popular myth, the spherical Earth was widely accepted among educated Europeans during the time of Christopher Columbus; his voyage debated the size of the sphere, not its shape. The final empirical proof came with Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation and later observations by Isaac Newton.

Modern proponents and organizations

The modern revival is largely traced to Samuel Rowbotham, a 19th-century English inventor who, under the pseudonym "Parallax," founded the Zetetic Society based on his book Zetetic Astronomy. His work was later promoted by followers like William Carpenter. In the 20th century, the Flat Earth Society was established by Samuel Shenton and later led by Charles K. Johnson, who published the newsletter Flat Earth News. Contemporary organizations include the Flat Earth International Conference, led by figures like Robbie Davidson. Proponents often use platforms like YouTube and Twitter to spread their views, with notable influencers including Mark Sargent and Patricia Steere. These groups frequently reject the authority of NASA, the European Space Agency, and other space agencies.

Scientific evidence against

Overwhelming evidence from multiple disciplines confirms Earth's sphericity. Geodesy, through projects like the French Geodesic Mission, directly measured Earth's curvature. Navigation relies on spherical geometry, as used by the Royal Navy and Air Force. Observations from high-altitude balloons and rockets consistently show a curved horizon. Direct visual proof comes from astronauts aboard the International Space Station and missions like Apollo 11. Physics explains phenomena like gravity and the Coriolis effect, which only make sense on a rotating sphere. Technologies such as GPS satellites and VLBI depend on a spherical Earth model. Simple experiments, like the disappearance of ships over the horizon observed at Gibraltar, have been documented since antiquity.

Cultural and social impact

The belief functions as a foundational conspiracy theory, often serving as a gateway to other denialist movements like climate change denial and anti-vaccine activism. It has been examined in documentaries such as Behind the Curve and featured in entertainment like the Netflix series The Good Place. The community demonstrates high social media engagement, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem that resists fact-checking. Psychologists study it as a phenomenon of epistemic closure and identity-protective cognition. Notable public figures, including Kyrie Irving and B.o.B, have expressed sympathy, sparking media debates. It occasionally intersects with political extremism and broader distrust in science.

Alternative cosmological models

Proponents propose various non-spherical models to explain observations. The most common is a disk-shaped Earth with the North Pole at the center and a wall of Antarctic ice at the rim, guarded by secret forces like Operation Highjump. The sun and moon are often described as small, local luminaries circling above the plane, akin to the ancient Tychonic system. Gravity is typically denied or replaced with concepts like universal acceleration, referencing the work of Ernst Mach. Celestial mechanics are dismissed in favor of a non-moving firmament, drawing from a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis. Some models incorporate elements from the Hollow Earth theory or invoke electromagnetism as a primary cosmic force, rejecting the heliocentric model entirely.

Category:Pseudoscience Category:Conspiracy theories Category:History of science