Universal Truths, Younger
2+2=4.
Mix blue and yellow, you get green.
Santa is real and omnipotent; the Easter Bunny is a story for babies.
An apple a day keeps the doctors (and their sharp needles) away.
Between the pair, Mom and Dad know everything.
Learning is important.
Caterpillars become butterflies; they change in their cocoons.
Plants use green stuff called chlorophyl to turn what we exhale back into what we breathe.
Chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
And, of course, the earth is round.
Flat Earth Through the Ages
If there’s one thing history can tell us about science, it’s that few “scientific facts” are safe. The shape of the Earth is no exception.
According to ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamian records, the world is a disk surrounded by vast oceans, the heavens arched protectively above.
Greek philosopher Anaximander thought of the Earth of a flat disk, too, though he alleged it perched atop a great cylinder.
The Norse believed the Earth to be a flat plane encircled by an ocean, the great ash tree Yggdrasill at its center, connecting the many realms of the cosmos together.
Across centuries and cultures, the idea of flat Earth prevailed.
However, this belief was not absolute.
Famed Greek philosopher Aristotle was among the first to recognize the Earth as a sphere, citing the movement of celestial bodies across the night sky and observations of lunar eclipses, which generated circular shadows on the moon.
Soon after, Eratosthenes, a Greek mathematician known as the “Father of Geography,” calculated the circumference of the Earth–about 28,735 miles–with surprising accuracy by measuring the angles of the sun.
Of course, this was all theoretical – who was to declare Aristotle right and Anaximander wrong? Especially when the astronomical and mathematical concepts used by the pro-sphere cohorts are tough to comprehend, even today.
It’s not until many centuries later the first documented, practical proof of a round Earth is delivered by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano.
Setting sail from Spain in 1519 with the goal of reaching Indonesia, Magellan, Elcano, and their crew spent over three years circumventing the globe – a journey that was ultimately successful, though it did claim the lives of many crew members, including Magellan.
Perilous as it was, this expedition proved what round Earthers had theorized for more than a thousand years: our planet is irrefutably round.
Science…Fiction?
Time and time again, what’s know as scientific fact is disproven–in fact, it’s an essential part of the scientific method.
Popularized in the 16th century by Sir Francis Bacon to “weigh the truthfulness of knowledge,” this technique has been continuously refined ever since to become the standard proof point for science, leading to monumental discoveries like Einstein’s theory of relativity, penicillin, and the structure of DNA.
While there are some variations across disciplines, traditionally the scientific method follows as such:
- Define a Question
- Gather Information and Resources
- Form a Hypothesis
- Perform the Experiment(s)
- Analyze the Dat
- Report the Results
- Retest the Hypothesis
After these steps are completed and a conclusion is made, one might think it’s the end of the process. Surely, if a scientist is running through all these steps, persevering through constant trial and error, their results must be infallible?
But once a scientist makes their claim, the floodgates for analysis and critique from other experts–who are far from a crowd of fawning sycophants–come rolling in.
The goal of these reviewers is not to give the conclusion an A+ and a gold star–they’re replicating the entire process, looking for flaws in methodology, data analysis, and any biases from those who tested the original hypothesis. They’re using all their brainpower to disprove what the original experimenter dedicated so much time and energy into proving.
I for one find comfort in this level of evaluation; if a scientific conclusion can stand up to the scrutiny of a field of experts through empirical data and replicable results, I believe it’s as close to “fact” as we can get.
Does that mean it won’t be disproved down the line? Of course not–we might just be lacking the tools and understanding to disprove it right now. But what it does mean is that we’ve taken a step forward, one from which we can continue to build upon our collective comprehension of the universe.
But it begs the question, is everything we believe today in fact, fiction–false narratives and ideas just waiting to be disproven by someone smarter, or with more advanced tools and techniques? What standard must one meet to qualify as “fact?”
In the end, does it just come down to our own, imperfectly biased worldviews to determine the makeup of our realities?
Roots of the Modern Flat Earth Movement
After all the work Aristotle, Eratosthenes, Magellan, Elcano, and many others put in, one would think the question of the Earth’s shape was solidly put to rest; especially as advancements in cartography, shipbuilding, astronomy, and international connections continued to flourish in the centuries that followed.
Alas, one man in Britain could not let the idea of a flat Earth lie.
In 1849, Samuel Birley Rowbotham–an inventor and writer, also known as Parallax–published a 16-page pamphlet titled “Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not a Globe,” which by 1881 had been expanded into a 430-page book. In these pages, the father of the modern flat Earth movement claimed to have conducted experiments–like observing objects over distances that should have been impossible on a curved surface– that refuted the idea of a spherical Earth and laid out a new idea of the Earth’s true shape.
He theorized that the Earth is an enclosed plane, with the North Pole at its center and land expanding outward until it hits the ocean, which is contained by a wall of ice that surrounds the entire outward edge of the Earth. As for the sun, moon, stars, and other celestial bodies, those are only a few hundred (or thousand) miles above Earth’s surface and move in circular paths across the sky.
Despite ignoring ample evidence from others and dismissing the concept of gravity as understood by Newtonian physics altogether, Rowbotham, a quick-witted and skilled debater, found a receptive, growing audience throughout his life. Upon his death in 1884, his most devout kept his theories alive through the Universal Zetetic Society, though their reach and impact did lessen as time passed.
That being said, the ideas laid out by Rowbotham have surged in popularity time and time again since his passing. 1956 brought about the formation of the International Flat Earth Research Society, commonly known as the Flat Earth Society, which, despite fluctuations in membership and interest, kept his concepts from fading into complete obscurity.
Today, Rowbotham’s ideas still serve as the basis for the modern flat Earth movement, which has found new life in the digital age among those with an appetite for contrarian viewpoints and conspiracy theories, with social media platforms like YouTube providing them with endless opportunities to connect and conspire.
Imposters and Imbeciles
Imposter syndrome is an interesting phenomenon, one in which the more someone knows about a particular subject, the less likely they are to feel like an authority on it; as if, despite years of academic and professional experience, they are incapable of contributing to discussions in a constructive, intelligent manner. They see finding the material easy as incompetence, rather than earned expertise–making them less likely to voice their opinions, and more likely to feel like a fraud amongst their peers.
It’s something I struggle with myself. Despite years of professional experience, multiple graduate degrees and certificates, and other accolades in my area of expertise, I live in constant fear that someday, someone is going to declare me incompetent.
Even if I turn to the comfort of the scientific method to reference empirical data and repeated trials that indicate otherwise, that mean little voice in the back of my head saying “You’re not good enough,” never entirely fades away. It’s as if the more I learn, the more I understand that there are so many things I don’t know, that there are so many people out there with more experience, expertise, and confidence.
In some ways, it’s exhausting, though I can see a silver lining. This fear, unfounded or not, keeps me humble, ambitious, and thorough in my research. But I can’t help but wonder, what must it be like to have absolute confidence in your work?
Of course, an abundance of confidence is not always a good thing.
Take, for example, the Dunning-Kruger effect–a cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their own competence. Lacking the metacognitive skills to recognize their own shortcomings, they’ll arrogantly overvalue their knowledge. They’ll push back on empirical data, proven expertise, and undeniable results with full confidence in their self-proclaimed genius, unable to comprehend that others might match or, dare I say, surpass their intellectual prowess.
The irony is rich: those with the lowest level of ability speak the loudest, claim the most space at the table, their confidence pushing those with true expertise to question their own knowledge, making them wonder if there’s a chance this overly confident person knows something they don’t.
Flat Earthers in the Modern Age
If there was a reincarnation of Samuel Birley Rowbotham driving the Flat Earth cause forward today, it would be Mark Sargent.
Many of today’s Flat Earthers credit Mark’s 14-part YouTube series Flat Earth Clues as their starting point of their flat Earth journey, believing his theories and examples as valid enough to join the cause. Published in 2015, these videos have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, and were even published as a book, “Flat Earth Clues: The Sky’s the Limit” in 2016.
Mark also had the distinction of being the keynote speaker at the first-ever Flat Earth International Conference in 2017, which was attended by 400-500 people, and remains a regular fixture for both online and virtual events, one of many flat Earth stars utilizing digital spaces to spread their message.
It’s through social media platforms like YouTube that the Flat Earth movement, among many other conspiracy theories, has gained traction in the last decade. Despite a public push for social media and tech companies to clearly label content as “False” or “Misleading,” there is little incentive for them to do so.
If someone is a Flat Earth believer, YouTube’s algorithm is going to prioritize recommending content that aligns with their beliefs, keeps them watching–that means more views, comments, shares, clicks, and overall engagement…and ultimately more dollars in their pockets. Content creators like Mark also benefit from this system by monetizing their content after hitting certain follower numbers and view counts.
It’s a relationship that benefits all involved, except the consumer.
But there’s something more than just money at play: these digital spaces help connect those separated by geographic distance, giving them the space to build community in a way like never before. They’ve found their tribe, those who hold one of their core beliefs as gospel. These relationship may be rooted in flat Earth, but have the capacity to grow into something deeper and more profound.
So, ask yourself this: if presented with evidence that contradicts one of your strongly held beliefs, would you be able accept it? Even if it means losing those closest to you? Or would you push on, treasuring the community and relationships you’ve built enough to endorse an easily disproven theory?
Science Snobs and Community Connections
Passion, curiosity, commitment – all qualities highly valued within the scientific community. However, one can easily prove these characteristics thrive among those who fall into the Flat Earther camp as well.
Do they not passionately push against the status quo, fighting for their hypothesis to be heard? Is it not their natural curiosity that inspired them to question a long-held belief in the shape of the Earth? If they had gone down a slightly different path–perhaps one with more direction and support–could they have not wound up the very researchers, thinkers, and mold-breakers the scientific community seeks to recruit to their ranks?
Do scientists themselves fuel this branch of pseudoscience and anti-intellectualism through condescension, mockery, and outright dismissal? Yes, science needs standards, but it also requires the understanding that everyone does not start off in the same place. Without this empathy, are we robbing these individuals of the chance to grow into their full potential–pushing them further down the conspiracy pipeline?
These are certainly questions worth exploring–but that need for further examination and evaluation might be exactly the point the scientific community is making when pushing back on engaging with Flat Earthers.
They’re often unwilling to dive deeper into other perspectives, to consider evidence that counters their stance. A true scientific conversation must be one of give-and-take, of thoughtful consideration and collaboration. Since many Flat Earthers seem to lack the ability to be “wrong,” to recognize empirical data, and consensus among experts, it’s impossible for scientists to move forward with them–they’ll simply exist in a perpetual echo chamber of delusion.
Unfortunately for all involved, this space is hard to escape once entered. It’s a place of support, validation, and, perhaps most importantly, community. This desire for connection is human nature and, if it can’t be found among academics and experts, they have no choice but to turn elsewhere to find likeminded peers.
YouTube Community Comments
@ScottyMcGee1993 2 months ago (edited)
Earth is flat, there are way more reasons than the ball has.
@FancyPug557 6 months ago
What a powerful video. I learnt so much in 11minutes👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
@jERjONES666 1 year ago
There should be a reality tv show for flat earthers to try to find the edge of the earth. I would sooooooo pay to watch that
Replies (22) ↓
@AnnieFannie
I think I just got dumber watching this.
@GeorgeLarson22
For me it’s easier to believe that there is an alien civilization in Antarctica than the earth being flat.
@BriantheBlunt
Prove the earth is flat, by finding the edge and jumping off. Thank you.
@MelanieFRANK8 3 days ago
real eyes realise real lies !
@CarrieTriesThings 2 years ago
I would walk away from this conversation but I’m scared to fall off the edge.
Replies (3) ↓
@Sammysssss1977
Oh yes because a spinning ball in a universe is more believable 🤣 its called the ice wall and the firmament!
@TrollingTom89898
Plz never procreate @Sammysssss1977
@AllisonANSWERS020 4 months ago
I love my Flat Earth community 💚💚💚 Everyone else thinks I’m nits!
@BarryBaller Today
Thank you for opening my eyes 🙏👀
The (Curved) Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, I believe in science. I believe in the experts who’ve dedicated their lives to their subjects. I believe in the empirical data, repeated experiments, and first-hand accounts of astronauts who have seen the Earth from afar. I believe that the question of Earth’s shape has been answered, irrefutably, and that it is as close to fact that we can get.
I believe it is good to ask questions about long-held beliefs. I believe we should hear out those with different viewpoints, to consider new perspectives with a curious, analytical eye. I believe we all reach a point where we recognize that some will never change their stance, regardless of the proof before their very eyes.
In all of this, I believe.
But, as we know all too well by now, we don’t all share the same beliefs.
Universal Truths, Older
Science is constantly evolving, improving.
People want to be seen and heard, to belong to a community that supports them.
Expertise is important.
I have limits in some intellectual areas that others don’t.
Evidence is not always convincing, especially to those who don’t want to see it.
Contrarian perspectives have and will always exist.
Belittling others for their beliefs and ideas can lead to further extremism.
The facts I believe now may one day be disproven.
To contribute to progress, I must acknowledge when I’m wrong.
And, of course, the Earth is round.