Why do some people still believe the Earth is a flat, stationary disc?
In short: Modern flat Earth belief is not a relic of the ancient world, but a 19th-century reaction to scientific progress. Today, this movement thrives online, fueled by deep-seated mistrust of institutions, the allure of conspiracy theories, and a desire for community in an increasingly complex, technological age.
The modern flat Earth movement traces its origins to Samuel Rowbotham, an English writer who published Zetetic Astronomy in 1849. Rowbotham argued that Earth is a flat disc centered at the North Pole, bounded by an Antarctic ice wall, and that the Sun and Moon are relatively small objects hovering just thousands of miles above the surface. His ideas were rooted in a literalist interpretation of scripture and a rejection of modern scientific conjecture, which he viewed as a threat to religious truth.
Throughout the 20th century, the movement evolved through various iterations, most notably the International Flat Earth Research Society, founded by Samuel Shenton in 1956. While early groups were often motivated by religious conviction, the movement has since diversified. Today, it encompasses a wide array of conspiracy theories, including claims that NASA is a fraudulent organization and that photographic evidence of a spherical Earth is fabricated. These beliefs are often linked to broader anti-establishment sentiments, rejecting everything from evolutionary biology to the existence of dinosaurs.
Researchers studying this phenomenon suggest that the movement's recent resurgence, particularly since 2015, is driven by the internet and social media. These platforms allow for the rapid spread of misinformation and the formation of tight-knit communities that reinforce each other's skepticism of official scientific institutions. Experts note that the appeal of these theories is rarely about the physics of the planet itself; rather, it is rooted in a psychological need for belonging, a deep-seated distrust of authority, and a desire to reject the perceived arrogance of the scientific establishment in favor of personal, sensory-based experience.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Modern flat Earth beliefs
- Also: Flat Earth | Theory, Model, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica
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