Hail and welcome everyone, to this, a back by popular demand Flat Earth edition of the Drunken Skeptic. So pull up your bar stools and let the fun begin. Now we all know that most Flat Earth proponents generally rely on flawed pseudoscience to support their arguments for a Flat Earth, but just how many of those arguments are riddled with logical fallacies. Even a recent review of their Flat Earth Wiki reveals they might not even be very clued up on most logical fallacies or tailor them to fit their narrative. Which stands to reason why they make so many in their every day Social Media based arguments and memes. Let’s unravel some of these fallacies and see how they fall apart under scrutiny.
1. Argument from Incredulity: “I can’t see the curve, so it isn’t there!”
Many Flat Earthers base their belief on the assertion that if they cannot personally perceive the Earth’s curvature, it must not exist. This is a classic case of the logical fallacy known as ‘argument from incredulity’, where disbelief in a concept is used as evidence against it.
- Refutation: The Earth is simply too large for its curvature to be readily apparent from ground level. However, numerous ways of observing its roundness exist. From the way ships disappear hull-first over the horizon to the existence of different constellations in different hemispheres, everyday observations confirm the Earth’s spherical shape. Additionally, pictures and videos from space offer indisputable visual evidence.
2. Appeal to Authority: “But this person on YouTube said…”
Flat Earth proponents often cite supposed experts or individuals with seemingly relevant credentials to support their claims. These figures may be scientists from unrelated fields, conspiracy theorists, or charismatic individuals who lack verifiable expertise in planetary science. This tactic is known as the ‘appeal to authority’ fallacy. Another way this fallacy can be presented is by what we call quote mining, where credible experts are misrepresented or quoted out of context to have them appear to support the flat Earth belief.
- Refutation: While everyone is entitled to their beliefs, true scientific understanding is built upon consensus within the relevant scientific community. The overwhelming majority of physicists, astronomers, geographers, and space exploration agencies confirm the Earth’s sphericity. Trustworthy sources of information are based on rigorous experimentation, peer-reviewed studies, and verifiable data.
3. Conspiracy Theory: “NASA and all governments are lying to us!”
A central pillar of the Flat Earth belief is a vast conspiracy theory that suggests governments, space agencies, scientists, and countless other professionals across the world are colluding to perpetuate the “lie” of a round Earth. These claims are often fueled by a fundamental distrust of authority.
- Refutation: A conspiracy of this magnitude would be impossible to maintain. The sheer number of people who would have to be involved would make it unsustainable. Also, consider this: what would be the motive for such a massive deception? Flat Earth theories don’t provide a convincing answer.
4. Selective Evidence: “Look at this photo! It proves the Earth is flat.”
Flat Earthers often focus on isolated pictures or localized observations that appear to support a flat Earth and ignore the vast body of evidence to the contrary. This is an example of cherry-picking data and a disregard for the overall scientific context. Another form of this fallacy is the Singular Proof fallacy, where a single piece of evidence (usually out of context) is presented to prove their view is true.
- Refutation: A comprehensive understanding of any scientific principle requires considering the totality of evidence. While an isolated image may appear inconclusive, we have countless verifiable images of Earth from space, as well as observations of planetary bodies, and celestial mechanics that all support a spherical Earth.
5. Appeal to Possibility: “Photo manipulation is possible, therefore all photos of Earth from space are fake!”
Flat Earthers quite regularly appeal to the fact that CGI and photo manipulation technologies exist and usually double down on their bias beliefs using the Appeal to Possibility fallacy to simply dismiss any photo and video evidence that’s presented as CGI or “Photoshopped”.
- Refutation: Although it is true that NASA sometimes touch up their photos with photo editing technology they don’t make any physical changes to the images. What does happen is that the ISS is too close to the Earth to take a photo of the entire planet so they take several photos of Earth in their orbit and then stitch them together for a full profile view, but because weather patterns are constantly changing it could appear as if cloud patterns repeat as if the image was manipulated. We have, however other full view photographs of Earth from the Apollo missions and even from Mars (although those ones are from very far away and the Earth appears very small). It’s also true that Flat Earth proponents have taken 3D representations of Earth created by graphic and media design companies and then misrepresent it as “doctored” by NASA.
Conclusion
While the Flat Earth model might offer a sense of intrigue or contrarian appeal, it’s essential to critically evaluate the arguments used to support it. By understanding these logical fallacies, we can arm ourselves against misleading information and base our understanding of the world on sound, scientific evidence.
Remember, science offers us a remarkable framework for understanding our place in the universe, and the Earth’s sphericity is a cornerstone of that understanding.
References:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): https://www.noaa.gov/digital-library/collections/3379/item?page=3652
- NASA’s website: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/en/
- Sky & Telescope: https://www.space.com/infrared-telescope-moon-better-than-james-webb-space-telescope
- Space Communications and navigation program (NASA): https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/space-communications-navigation-program/nasas-utilization-of-global-positioning-system-gps/
- FlatEarth.ws – Debunking Flat Earth Misconceptions: https://flatearth.ws/
An interesting read, also, is the Flat Earth Fallacy by J.W. Braun: https://www.amazon.com/Flat-Earth-Fallacy-Globe-Proof/dp/1099928966
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