Earth Not a Globe!

[Entered at Stationers Mall.]

Zetetic Astronomy.

An Experimental Inquiry Into The True Figure of the Earth: Proving It a Plane, Without Axial or Orbital Motion ; and the Only Material World In The Universe!

GENERAL CONTENTS.

1. SECTION I. ' Introduction—Experiments proving the Earth to be a Plane.
2. SECTION II. The Earth no Axial or Orbital Motion.
3. SECTION III. The true distance of the Sun and Stars.
4. SECTION IV. The Sun moves in a Circle over the Earth, concentric with the North Pole.
5. SECTION V. Diameter of Sun's path constantly changing.
6. SECTION VI. Cause of Day and Night, Seasons, &c. SECTION VII. Cause of "Sun rise" and "Sun set."
7. SECTION VIII. Cause of Sun appearing larger when "Arising" and "Setting" than when on the Meridian. IV.
8. SECTION IX. Cause of Solar and Lunar Eclipses.
9. SECTION X. Cause of Tides.
10. SECTION XI. Constitution, Condition, and ultimate Destruction of the Earth by Fire.
11. SECTION XII. Miscellanea—Moon's Phases—Moon's appearance—Planet Neptune—Pendulum Experiments as Proots of Earth's motion.
12. SECTION XIII. Perspective on the Sea.
13. SECTION XIV. General Summary—Application—"Cin Bono.''

Zetetic Astronomy

The term "zetetic" is derived from the Greek verb zeteo ; which means to search or examine; to proceed only by inquiry; to take nothing for granted, but to trace phenomena to their immediate and demonstrable causes. It is here used in contradistinction from the word "theoretic," the meaning of which is, speculative--imaginary--not tangible,--scheming, but not proving.

None can doubt that by making special experiments and collecting manifest and undeniable facts, arranging them in logical order, and observing what is naturally and fairly deducible therefrom, the result must be more consistent and satisfactory than the contrary method of framing a theory or system--assuming the existence and operation of causes for which there is no direct evidence, and which is only be "admitted for the sake of argument," and for the purpose of giving an apparent and plausible, but not necessarily truthful explanation of phenomena. All theories are of this character. Supposing instead of inquiring, imagining systems instead of learning from observation and experience the true constitution of things. Speculative men, by the force of genius may invent systems that will perhaps be greatly admired for a time; these, however, are phantoms which the force of truth will sooner or later dispel; and while we are pleased with the deceit, true philosophy, with all the arts and improvements that depend upon it, suffers. The real state of things escapes our observation ; or, if it presents itself to us, we are apt either to reject it wholly as fiction, or, by new efforts of a vain ingenuity to interweave it with our own conceits, and labour to make it tally with our favourite schemes. Thus, by blending together parts so ill-suited, the whole comes forth an absurd composition of truth and error. * * These have not done near so much harm as that pridefand ambition which has led philosophers to think it beneath them to offer anything less to the world than a complete and finished system of nature ; and, in order to obtain this at once, to take the liberty of inventing certain principles and hypotheses, from which they pretend to explain all her mysteries. s1"An Account of Sir Isaac Newton's Discoveries." By Professor Maclaurin, M.A., F.R.S., of the Chair of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh.

Theories are thing of uncertain mode. They depend, in a great measure, upon the humour and caprice of an age, which is sometimes in love with one, and sometimes with another.

The system of Copernicus was admitted by its author to be merely an assumption, temporary and incapable of demonstration. The following are his words:--It is not necessary that hypotheses should be true, or even probable ; it is sufficient that they lead to results of calculation which agree with calculations. * * Neither let any one, so far as hypotheses are concerned, expect anything certain from astronomy ; since that science can afford nothing of the kind; lest, in case he should adopt for truth things feigned for another purpose, he should leave this study more foolish than he came. * * The hypothesis of the terrestrial motion was nothing but an hypothesis, valuable only so far as it explained phenomena, and not considered with reference to absolute truth or falsehood.

The Newtonian and all other "views" or "systems" are little better than the "hypothesis of the terrestrial motion " of Copernicus. The foundations or premises are always unproved ; no proof is ever attempted ; the necessity for it is denied; it is considered sufficient that the assumptions shall seem to explain the phenomena selected. In this way it is that one theory supplants another; that system gives way to system as one failure after another compels opinions to change. This will ever be so; there will always exist in the mind a degree of uncertainty ; a disposition to look upon philosophy as a vain pretension; a something almost antagonistic to the highest aspirations in which humanity can indulge, unless the practice of theorising be given up, and the method of simple inquiry, the " zetetic " process be adopted . " Nature speaks to us in a peculiar language; in the language of phenomena, she answers at all times the questions which are put to her; and such questions are experiments." s2"Liebig's Agricultural Chemistry," p. 39. Not experiments only which corroborate what has previously been assumed to be true; but experiments in every form bearing on the subject of inquiry, before a conclusion is drawn or premises affirmed.

We have an excellent example of zetetic reasoning in an arithmetical operation; more especially so in what is called the "Golden Rule," or the "Rule-of-Three." If one hundred weight of any article is worth a given sum, what will some other weight of that article be worth ? The separate figures may be considered as the elements or facts of the inquiry ; the placing and working of these as the logical arrangement; and the quotient or answer as the fair and natural deduction. Hence, in every zetetic process, the conclusion arrived at is essentially a quotient, which, if the details be correct, must, of necessity, be true beyond the reach or power of contradiction.

We have another example of the "Zetetic" process in our Courts of Justice. A prisoner is placed at the bar; evidence for and against him is advanced; it is carefully arranged and patiently considered; and only such a verdict given as could not in justice be avoided. Society would not tolerate any other procedure ; it would brand with infamy whoever should assume a prisoner to be guilty, and prohibit all evidence but such as would corroborate the assumption. Yet such is the character of theoretical philosophy!

The zetetic process is also the natural method of investigation; nature herself teaches it; it is her own continual suggestion; children invariably seek information by asking questions, by earnestly inquiring from those around them. Fearlessly, anxiously, and without the slightest regard to consequences, question after question, in rapid and exciting succession will often proceed from a child, until the most profound in learning and philosophy will feel puzzled to reply. If then both nature and justice, as well as the common sense and practical experience of mankind demand, and will not be content with less or other than the zetetic process, why should it be ignored and violated by the learned in philosophy? Let the practice of theorising be cast aside as one fatal to the full development of truth; oppressive to the reasoning power; and in every sense inimical to the progress and permanent improvement of the human race.

If then we adopt the zetetic process to ascertain the true figure and condition of the Earth, we shall find that instead of its being a globe, and moving in space, it is the directly contrary—A Plane ; without motion, and unaccompanied by anything in the Firmament analogous to itself.

If the Earth is a globe, and 25,000 miles in circumference, the surface of all standing water must have a certain degree of convexity—every part must be an arc of a circle, curvating from the summit at the rate of 8 inches per mile multiplied by the square of the distance. That this may be sufficiently understood, the following quotation is given from the Encyclopaedia Britannica, art. "Levelling." "If a line which crosses the plumb-line at right angles be continued for any considerable length it will rise above the Earth's surface (the Earth being globular); and this rising will be as the square of the distance to which the said right line is produced; that is to say, it is raised eight inches very nearly above the Earth's surface at one mile's distance ; four times as much, or 32 inches, at the distance of two miles; nine times as much, or 72 inches, at the distance of three miles. This is owing to the globular figure of the Earth, and this rising is the difference between the true and apparent levels; the curve of the Earth being the true level, and the tangent to it the apparent level. So soon does the difference between the true and apparent levels become perceptible that it is necessary to make an allowance for it if the distance betwixt the two stations exceeds two chains.

Let B. D. be a small portion of the Earth's circumference, whose centre of curvature is A. and consequently all the points of this arc will be on a level But a tangent B. C. meeting the vertical line A. D. in C. will be the apparent