- #1
mapsurfer
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Why did people think the Earth was flat?
Why Did People Believe the Earth Was Flat?
- Thread starter mapsurfer
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- Earth Flat Flat earth
In summary: If that's the case, then it's not really a proof that the Earth is flat.In summary, the ancient Greeks were aware that the Earth is round, measured its radius, and believed that Columbus would die of starvation before arriving in Asia. Modern Flat Earth believers think that the Earth is flat and refer to the theory that space is two dimensional.
- #2
vanesch
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
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Look around you. It's flat, isn't it ? Do a measurement of a triangle's angles. Make the sum. You find 180 degrees, no ? At least for a triangle you can see with your eyes, standing on the ground.
- #3
redargon
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mapsurfer said:
It's hard to draw a sphere on a flat piece of paper... people are just lazy. Having a flat world made everyone happier.
And it's harder for four elephants riding on a turtle's back to hold up a geoid, a nice flat disc is obviously easier.
- #4
TheStatutoryApe
- 296
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redargon said:
The Turtle Moves!
That was one of his best I think.
- #5
Jimmy Snyder
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What people are you talking about? The ancient Greeks were aware that the Earth is round and measured its radius. The story about Columbus convincing people that the Earth is round was made up more than a century after he died. He believed that the radius of the Earth is small and that Asia was much closer the Europe than it actually is. Those who disagreed thought that there was no continent between Europe and Asia and that Columbus would die of starvation before arriving in Asia. Both sides were wrong, but neither side thought the Earth was flat.mapsurfer said:
And yet there are people today who believe the Earth is flat. Is that who you mean? You can google "flat Earth society" and find out why they think the Earth is flat. This is a modern organization, the ancients had no time for such nonsense.
- #6
tribdog
- 769
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I don't believe that the flat Earth people really believe the Earth is flat.
- #7
will.c
- 375
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tribdog said:
Well you're welcome to your beliefs, but I don't think they're very widely held. Maybe you could start a "believers that the flat Earth society doesn't really believe in a flat earth" society
- #8
Nick M
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Hahahahaha! 
"Very small stones!"
"Very small stones!"
- #9
TMFKAN64
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I've always thought that the modern Flat Earth people were just doing a parody of the people who believe the world is 6,000 years old and Noah's flood carved the Grand Canyon.
I could be wrong though.
(In any event, you really *need* to hear their explanation of how GPS works...)
I could be wrong though.
(In any event, you really *need* to hear their explanation of how GPS works...)
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- #10
LightbulbSun
- 65
- 2
The only reason why people believe in such weird stuff is because they hate science. They don't like that science is finding out real answers. They want it to be all relative so they can be all smug and make up a bunch of weird stuff everyday and never be wrong.
- #11
minger
Science Advisor
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I've heard that one of the "proofs" was that water in a glass is "perfectly" level, so there can't be a center point of attraction, rather gravity simply acts downward as if on a flat plate.
- #12
Math Jeans
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Maybe these people who believe that the Earth is flat are simply referring to the theory that space is two dimensional.
Related to Why Did People Believe the Earth Was Flat?
What was the evidence for people believing the Earth was flat?
The belief that the Earth was flat was largely based on observations and experiences of the world around them. People noticed that the horizon appeared flat and that objects appeared to sink into the distance. Additionally, some ancient texts and religious beliefs also supported the idea of a flat Earth.
Why did people continue to believe in a flat Earth despite evidence to the contrary?
One reason for this belief was the lack of scientific understanding and technology during ancient times. People did not have the means to travel far enough to see the curvature of the Earth, and the concept of a spherical Earth was not widely accepted until later in history. Additionally, cultural and religious beliefs also played a role in perpetuating the idea of a flat Earth.
When did the belief in a flat Earth start to change?
The ancient Greeks were among the first to propose a spherical Earth, with philosophers like Pythagoras and Aristotle providing evidence for a round Earth as early as the 6th century BC. However, it wasn't until the 15th century with the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan that the idea of a round Earth became widely accepted.
Why is the belief in a flat Earth still present today?
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence and advancements in technology that have proven the Earth to be round, there are still some people who hold onto the belief in a flat Earth. This is often due to misinformation and conspiracy theories that continue to circulate, as well as a distrust in mainstream science and authority figures.
How has the understanding of the Earth's shape changed over time?
As scientific understanding and technology have advanced, our understanding of the Earth's shape has also evolved. Today, we know that the Earth is not a perfect sphere but rather an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator. This understanding is continually refined and improved upon through ongoing research and exploration of our planet.
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