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In this episode Strange Matters tackles one of the most controversial and bizarre conspiracy theories still spreading to this day – The Flat Earth Theory. Though it might come as a surprise to many, the shape of our home planet is still up to debate according to those who don’t buy into the “Round Earth” conspiracy. To those holding the notion that our planet is in fact a flat plane, they believe that the world leaders, scientists, and most of all NASA are all involved in a widespread cover up to continue to fool the mass population into thinking we are living on a globe.
To a Flat Earther, you should only believe what you can see and perceive with your senses. Since you can not see the Earth’s curvature on the horizon, it must mean that the land is flat all around the world. In this theory, the sun and moon are relatively small spheres that travel in circles only a few thousand miles above the plane of our planet. Surrounding Earth is a thick, impassable wall of ice that holds in Earth’s oceans, and perhaps even a massive dome above us that is illuminated by holograms giving the illusion of a starry sky, when in reality something much difference than space lies beyond our planet.
Listen to this episode and hear all about the strange and bizarre ideas and conspiracies involved in the Flat Earth Theory!
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I first heard about the Modern Flat Earth Movement from some friends who I attend a skeptics group with. They spend a lot of time speaking with Flat-Earthers on forums and commenting on blogs and videos. Until recently, I thought that the Flat-Earth Society was nothing more than an intellectual experiment. However, the passion with which its proponents argue their point, and the mental gymnastics they undertake to demonstrate their theories, indicates otherwise. I found interesting to hear from the Kent University professor that this is the norm. The idea of conspiracy theories like this emerging from our brain’s tendencies toward magical thinking is compelling, but I wonder what it is that makes some people opt for reason, and others to lean towards what are basically fairy stories.
I thought this was a great episode, BTW. It’s the first time I’ve listened, and you kept me hooked throughout.
Glad you enjoyed the episode! It was a very interesting one to research. I had heard of the flat earth theory before but until I really looked into it I also did not know that there were so many people who actually take it seriously. From what I’ve seen from those who believe it are very firm set in their beliefs without much room for debate, any “proof” for flat earth is infallible and any evidence that shows a round earth is always faked. Though I can’t take the theory all that serious is still makes for some interesting reading if you are able to suspend reality for a bit!