Author
Description
The idea that medieval people thought the Earth was flat is a myth. In fact, the Western society has known about the spherical shape of our planet since Ancient Greece. However, the heliocentric spherical model of the solar system has been disapproved by those who belong to the modern Flat Earth movement, which emerged around 1850 and has recently been gaining new membership. The present chapter investigates the Flat Earth map by means of cartosemiotics, further relating these findings to an analysis of the Flat Earth movement as science denial conspiracy theory. In general, flat-earthers are clearly not to be taken seriously in the field of knowledge production. Yet, the capacity of this movement to reveal pertinent problems underlying society must not be overlooked. In contraposition to the current situation of political and social disruption, we see a rise of conspiracy theories, which serve as interpretation guides providing cognitive closure. As such, the Flat Earth map is not just a mis-model of the planet; it is a product of the movement itself and the narratives they promote, reflecting not only how a portion of humanity interprets our astronomical place in the universe, but how they feel towards life.
Full Citation:
Piva, H.C. (2025). Flat Earth Cartosemiotics and Modelling. In: Ojala, J., Bauters, M., Díaz-Kommonen, L. (eds) Feeling, Skill and Knowledge: Semiotics of the Subject in Environment, Culture and World. Numanities – Arts and Humanities in Progress, vol 32. Springer, Cham