Flat Earth "Science" -- Wrong, but not Stupid
Sabine Hossenfelder・12 minutes read
Flat earthers reject evidence of a round earth, denying gravity and struggling to explain natural phenomena on a flat earth model. Their flawed philosophy centers on personal sensory input over established scientific evidence, challenging the reliability of science and society.
Insights
- Flat earthers reject established scientific evidence of a round earth, proposing alternative models like a disk with a central North pole and a surrounding ice wall at the South pole.
- The philosophy of flat earthers centers on personal sensory input over scientific evidence, leading to a refusal to accept complex scientific explanations and a reliance on individual observations, challenging the traditional scientific paradigm.
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Recent questions
What do flat earthers believe?
Flat earthers reject evidence of a round earth, believing in various models like a disk with the North pole in the middle and the south pole as an ice wall.
How do flat earthers explain gravity?
They deny gravity, attributing observations to upward acceleration of the flat earth, leading to conflicts with scientific evidence.
What challenges do flat earthers face in explaining natural phenomena?
Flat earthers face challenges explaining the orbits of the moon and sun, day-night cycles, and solar eclipses on a flat earth model.
Who founded the flat earth society?
The history of the flat earth society traces back to Samuel Rowbotham, emphasizing reliance on personal sensory evidence.
What led to a surge in flat earther believers in 2016?
In 2016, videos on YouTube led to a surge in flat earther believers, with a significant percentage in the US rejecting established scientific facts.
Related videos
Summary
00:00
"Flat Earthers Reject Scientific Evidence, Defy Gravity"
- Flat earthers reject evidence of a round earth, believing in various models like a disk with the North pole in the middle and the south pole as an ice wall.
- They deny gravity, attributing observations to upward acceleration of the flat earth, leading to conflicts with scientific evidence.
- Flat earthers face challenges explaining the orbits of the moon and sun, day-night cycles, and solar eclipses on a flat earth model.
- The history of the flat earth society traces back to Samuel Rowbotham, emphasizing reliance on personal sensory evidence.
- The International Flat Earth Society was carried forward by Samuel Shenton and later Charles Johnson, with Daniel Shenton continuing the philosophy.
- In 2016, videos on YouTube led to a surge in flat earther believers, with a significant percentage in the US rejecting established scientific facts.
- Flat earthers often reject evidence that contradicts their beliefs, relying solely on personal sensory input and refusing to decode complex evidence.
- The flawed philosophy of flat earthers lies in their refusal to accept certain types of evidence, leading to illogical conclusions.
- Flat earthers' argument revolves around trusting personally collected evidence, challenging the reliance on established scientific knowledge.
- Rejecting flat earther claims based on established scientific evidence is reasonable, as it aligns with the evidence that supports the efficacy of science and society.
15:01
Addressing Flat Earther Philosophy in Science
- Scientists should address the philosophical problem posed by flat earthers as it highlights the necessity for providing evidence on how science works, ensuring that the system generates accurate descriptions of nature, especially for those unable to replicate all scientific experiments.
