Several ancient cultures thought the Earth was flat because they didn't know any better. But there are still people today who believe the Earth is flat, despite centuries of evidence proving the opposite.
So why do people believe this, and is it worth even getting into a debate about it?
There are mountains of evidence, but the discussion about the idea of a "flat Earth" has absolutely nothing to do with evidence at all.
It's not really surprising, as inconceivable as their belief system seems. The beliefs of flat-earthers are in line with those of other insane conspiracy theorists.
A fundamental principle is shared between all conspiracy theories. They present an alternative theory on an important issue or event and create a vague explanation of why somebody disguises this "true" version of the events. A major appeal is that they explain a major event, but often not in detail. The fact that they are vague holds a lot of power.
The self-assured way that conspiracy theorists abide by their story imbues that story with particular appeal. After all, flat-earthers are more insistent than most people about Earth. If you are faced with an intelligent and seemingly well-informed minority perspective, and if the advocates do not diverge from these strong opinions, they can be very influential. This is known as the minority influence.
In a paper published in 2014 in the American Journal of Political Science, political scientists at the University of Chicago, Tom Wood and Eric Oliver, reported that about half of Americans support at least one conspiracy theory, from the notion that 9/11 was an inside job to the JFK conspiracy. Many people are inclined to believe numerous ideas that directly contradict a dominant narrative of the culture. Conspiratorial belief comes from a human tendency, known as magical thinking, to perceive unseen forces at work.
That discussion, however, is really about the actual evidence or the scientific process.
People who believe the Earth is flat don't make use of scientific observations to arrive at that conclusion. They believe instead that we are being misled and lied to, that scientists want you to believe that despite its flatness, the Earth is round.
So the question is not, "why do people believe in a flat Earth" but instead, "why do people believe in a conspiracy?" And the answer is the same reason it's always been: mistrust.
Many people, most notably representatives of that society, don't trust the society around them. That confidence often falls even further when it comes to representatives of the elite in that society, which includes government officials, academics, and scientists. By asserting the Earth to be flat, people express deep distrust of scientists and science itself.
So if you are talking to somebody who believes Earth is flat, forgo the evidence and arguments and ask yourself how you can establish trust.
