Advocates of the flat Earth theory, often referred to as "flat Earthers," argue that the Earth is not a sphere, as widely accepted by science, but rather a flat surface. Despite being debunked by modern scientific consensus, this theory still has its followers. Here are some of the arguments they present to support their beliefs:
1. The Illusion of Senses and Visual Observations
Flat Earthers argue that when we observe the horizon, it always appears flat, no matter where we are on Earth. They claim this direct visual perception is proof that the Earth is flat. According to them, if the Earth were truly spherical, the horizon should appear curved, which contradicts everyday experience.
2. No Visible Curvature
One of their primary arguments is that even at high altitudes (such as in airplanes), the curvature of the Earth is not visible to the naked eye. They challenge the scientific explanation that the Earth’s curvature only becomes apparent at a certain altitude. For flat Earthers, the horizon remains flat even at tens of thousands of feet, reinforcing their belief.
3. Conspiracy Theories
Flat Earthers often believe that scientific evidence supporting a spherical Earth is the result of a large-scale global conspiracy. They claim that space agencies like NASA and governments are hiding the truth. In their view, images of a spherical Earth taken from space are either manipulated or computer-generated, created to maintain the illusion of a round Earth. They see space exploration as a staged performance to reinforce this false belief.
4. Questioning Gravity
Flat Earthers often challenge the concept of gravity. Instead of believing in a force that pulls objects toward the center of a sphere, they argue that what we perceive as "gravity" is actually the result of the flat Earth constantly moving upward, creating an effect similar to gravitational attraction. They reject the idea that objects are attracted to one another based on their mass, as described by modern science.
5. Airplane Flights and Geography
Airplane flight routes are frequently cited by flat Earthers to support their claims. They argue that certain flight paths, especially those that cross Antarctica or polar regions, seem illogical if the Earth is a sphere. To them, flight trajectories make more sense on a flat map projection, where the paths appear more direct.
6. Ancient Beliefs
Some flat Earthers argue that belief in a flat Earth was common in many ancient cultures and that the shift to the idea of a round Earth was imposed by intellectual and religious elites. They believe that ancient civilizations, which often depicted the Earth as flat, were closer to the truth, and modern discoveries have deviated from this ancient wisdom.
7. The Flat Earth Model
Flat Earthers propose their own model to explain various natural phenomena. For example, they argue that the sun and moon do not orbit around a spherical Earth but instead follow circular paths above the flat surface. They claim this explains why we see the same phases of the moon and why day and night occur in a regular pattern.
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