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William Carpenter was an influential figure in the 19th-century flat Earth movement, a proponent of the Zetetic method, and an ardent critic of the spherical Earth paradigm. Although not as widely known as other literary figures of his age, Carpenter's work has been the subject of both curiosity and scrutiny among those interested in the history of pseudoscience. His seminal work, 'One Hundred Proofs That the Earth Is Not a Globe', published in 1885, lays out a series of arguments intended to challenge the prevailing astronomical consensus and to raise doubts about the rotundity of the Earth. This treatise is emblematic of Carpenter's tenacious, albeit unorthodox, approach to empirical observation and interpretation, adhering staunchly to sensory experience as the arbiter of truth. His literalist interpretations and rejection of contemporary scientific findings placed him at the periphery of the scientific discourse of his time, making him a figure of interest in the study of anti-establishment discourse and the development of modern conspiracy theories. Carpenter's literary style within this work is characterized by a didactic tone and a firm reliance on what he deemed common sense, aimed at laypersons rather than the scientific community, indicating his intent to sway public opinion rather than engage in academic debate.
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