- #1
mapsurfer
- 22
- 0
Why did people think the Earth was flat?
Why Did People Believe the Earth Was Flat?
- Thread starter mapsurfer
- Start date
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- Earth Flat Flat earth
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the historical and contemporary beliefs regarding the shape of the Earth, specifically addressing why some people have thought it to be flat. It includes perspectives on ancient beliefs, modern flat Earth theories, and the motivations behind such beliefs.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that the perception of a flat Earth may stem from everyday observations, such as the flatness of the ground and the measurement of angles in triangles.
- Others propose that the simplicity of a flat world is more appealing and easier to conceptualize than a spherical one, referencing cultural narratives like the turtles supporting the Earth.
- A participant points out that ancient Greeks were aware of the Earth's roundness and that misconceptions about Columbus's beliefs are historically inaccurate.
- There is skepticism expressed regarding the genuine belief of modern flat Earth proponents, with some suggesting it may be a parody or a rejection of scientific understanding.
- One participant mentions a specific argument used by flat Earth believers regarding the level of water in a glass as evidence against gravity acting on a spherical Earth.
- Another participant speculates that flat Earth beliefs might relate to a broader theory that space is two-dimensional.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a range of views, with no consensus on the motivations or beliefs of flat Earth proponents. Some agree on historical inaccuracies regarding ancient beliefs, while others debate the sincerity of modern flat Earth beliefs.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes various assumptions about historical beliefs and modern interpretations, with some claims lacking detailed evidence or context.
- #2
vanesch
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 5,102
- 20
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
- 370
- 0
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
- 3
redargon said:
The Turtle Moves!
That was one of his best I think.
- #5
Jimmy Snyder
- 1,122
- 21
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
- 768
- 17
I don't believe that the flat Earth people really believe the Earth is flat.
- #7
will.c
- 374
- 1
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
- 191
- 0
Hahahahaha! 
"Very small stones!"
"Very small stones!"
- #9
TMFKAN64
- 1,121
- 22
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
- 64
- 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
- 1,494
- 2
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
- 347
- 0
Maybe these people who believe that the Earth is flat are simply referring to the theory that space is two dimensional.