Devangshu Dutta: Turning turtle

WORM'S EYE VIEW

The Flat Earth Theory (FET) still has its adherents despite the accumulation of centuries of adverse evidence. Satellite and space mission data may suggest that the Earth is round; a few notable eccentrics insist that it is nevertheless, flat.

The Flat Earth Society (FES) is headquartered in one of the most technologically-savvy places on the planet ""Anaheim, California. (There is also a rock band called the FES but their music isn't upto much.) Many FES members earn their daily bread in the IT and electronics industry. They are functional, productive members of society.

My only FES acquaintance, for instance, is a successful neurosurgeon and a pillar of the non-resident Indian community. He sees no dichotomy in accepting the evidence of CAT-scans, X-rays, lasers and so on in his daily work while denying the evidence of similar instruments when they conflict with his beliefs.

In that sense, FET transcends the status of a (quasi) scientific theory. It passes the key test of religion. It demands an act of faith from its believers; a blind belief when the tenets of the faith appear contrary to observable evidence.

FET also has its own intra-religious schisms. One would imagine that once people agreed to believe that the Earth was flat, the matter would end there. Nope "" there are fierce disagreements regarding the shape of other planets!

There are a few neo-FE theorists who draw on topology to suggest that the Earth might be a torus "" a flat disc with a central hole rather like a CD. This would resolve some physical anomalies resulting from the disc-without-a-hole model.

There are also a few diehards who wonder if the sun revolves around the Earth (though the geocentrics are considered delusional by most FES-members).

After all, if Nasa, Isro, Ariane and the other space agencies have concocted a vast body of evidence to refute the FET, they may also have concocted the solar-centric theory in pursuit of some other strange end!

The most divisive issue inside the FES is, of course, the matter of turtles. Does the Earth "swim" through the vacuum of space supported on the back of a vast turtle?

If it does, what does the turtle live on? Is the turtle in question a freely mobile, galactic creature? Is it actually supported on the back of another turtle? Are there an infinite number of turtles, all standing on each others' backs?

The traditionalists are generally turtle-fanciers. Apparently FET was originally conceptualised with turtles as an essential feature of the physical model. Some modern-day heretics suggest that turtles are unnecessary.

A stable FET theory can be derived with a flat disc-like Earth (with or without a central hole) skimming through space like a celestial frisbee. Hence, we can use the Principle of Parsimony and junk the turtles. But oldtimers see an abjuration of turtles as a breach of faith.

It is easy to laugh off the FET since their beliefs are not shared by a significant number of members of the human race. It is rather less easy to laugh at FES members as people.

As mentioned, they are otherwise rational, productive members of society. They don't aggressively proselytise, they don't commit or advocate acts of violence towards unbelievers nor do they indulge in brainwashing tactics or censorship.

Flat-earthers have a genuine tolerance for all other faiths: "dual religious citizenship" is common for FES members. A flat-earther can practice a standard religion without any issues. Many FES members do practice other religions.

As religions go, FET is very civilised "" perhaps too civilised and cerebral. It is no more delusional than most major religions. A literal statement like "God created the Earth in 24x7 hours" doesn't hold up in the context of science.

A physics PhD must resolve many logical contradictions before he can believe Pushpak Vimaans were aeroplanes and Brahmastras were nuclear weapons.

The contradictions are irrelevant "" so long as we all remain otherwise productive and useful citizens. Call this my prayer for the festive season: never mind the number of turtles!