Why Do People Claim the Earth Is Flat and How Do We Persuade Them?

Attempts to convince flat earthers that the Earth is spherical have often been deemed futile. In the past, people with limited understanding might have simply marvelled at seemingly counter-intuitive ideas, unable to comprehend them. Today, with the advent of modern education and technology, it has become easier for even high school students to prove the Earth’s sphericity through calculations and observations. Still, convincing them otherwise remains a challenge due to deeper psychological and social reasons.

Observable Evidence vs. Personal Experience

One way to demonstrate the Earth's sphericity is through a simple experiment. On a clear afternoon, you can call a colleague living on the opposite coast of the United States and ask him what time it is and whether the sun has set. At the same time, you can verify if this information holds for your location. The divergent responses will provide a tangible demonstration of the Earth’s curvature, showing that the sun has not set in your location even though it has for your colleague.

The Plausibility of a Flat Earth Hypothesis

For the vast majority of human activities, including driving and business, treating the Earth as flat is a reasonable and practical assumption. As a computer programmer, for instance, you would not need to consider the Earth's curvature in your calculations. Similarly, the Earth's spherical shape is not immediately apparent to the human eye, which typically stands around 2 meters tall. Rarely do we observe tangible evidence of the Earth's curvature in our daily lives.

The Psychological and Social Factors

For flat earthers, embracing the idea of a flat Earth is more than just a scientific hypothesis. It has become a core aspect of their identity, sense of community, and purpose. When a flat earther challenges this belief, they face a significant psychological barrier. The idea of abandoning this belief is akin to a kind of egoic death: the loss of their sense of self and the community that supports them. As such, the potential gains from convincing them are difficult to discern, given the profound sense of loss they would experience.

The Challenge of Resolving Cognitive Dissonance

The attempt to resolve the contradiction between the practical daily assumption of flatness and the scientific understanding of the Earth's curvature is complex. Scientific authority alone is insufficient to overcome this psychological barrier. The belief in a flat Earth often plays a crucial role in their sense of belonging and purpose. Therefore, the challenge lies in finding a way to reconcile their personal and social identity without fully accepting a round Earth.

To truly convince flat earthers, one may need to offer a compelling alternative that preserves their sense of identity and purpose. While this may be a challenging task, it is an important one, as perpetuating the flat Earth myth can lead to misinformation and scientific illiteracy. It's essential for educators, scientists, and technology users to engage flat earthers in a respectful and understanding manner, aiming to show the beauty and complexity of our spherical world.