The earth would be “flat” — rectilinear — without Gravity
When PEI says:
“The Earth would be flat without gravitational influence from the core”
It means:
No inward bending of motion
No natural curvature imposed on paths
No spherical geometry enforced
It does not mean Earth would look like a flat object.
It means Earth’s surrounding space would be geometrically flat, rectilinear, because nothing would bend motion.
Why This Clarification Matters
PEI emphasizes this definition because:
It prevents confusion with popular or historical claims
It keeps the discussion grounded in geometry and physics
It aligns gravity, motion, and space into a single causal chain
PEI’s framework consistently follows this order:
Gravity acts → motion bends → geometry appears → space is described
The PEI Definition
Flat Earth (PEI):
A condition of rectilinear space in which gravity is absent and motion remains straight.
At PEI, we explore ideas by asking simple but foundational questions. One such question is this:
What would the Earth look like if there were no gravitational influence from its core?
PEI’s view is direct and intuitive:
If there were no gravitational influence from Earth’s core, the Earth would be flat in its geometry and behavior.
This statement is not about maps or appearances—it is about how geometry itself emerges from gravity.
1. What PEI Means by “Flat”
When PEI uses the word flat, it does not mean that Earth would look like a disk.
Instead, flat means:
No curvature imposed on motion
No bending of paths
No natural tendency for objects to follow arcs or orbits
In other words, motion would be rectilinear, and geometry would be Euclidean.
Flatness, in PEI, refers to behavior, not shape.
2. Gravity as the Source of Curvature
In the PEI framework, gravity is an active influence emanating from a core. This influence continuously pulls matter inward and bends the motion of objects near it.
Because of gravity:
Falling objects curve toward Earth
Satellites follow arcs
Oceans conform to a spherical surface
Directions subtly converge toward the core
This constant bending is what gives rise to curvature.
3. Remove the Core, Remove the Curvature
Now consider a PEI thought experiment:
The Earth’s material shell remains
The gravitational core disappears
No force pulls inward
What happens?
Objects no longer fall
Paths straighten immediately
No natural curvature remains
Geometry becomes flat by default
Nothing needs to “rearrange” itself.
Flatness simply reappears once gravity is gone.
4. Geometry as a Consequence, Not a Cause
PEI emphasizes a crucial distinction:
Geometry does not create gravity
Geometry records gravity
Curvature is not a hidden structure forcing objects to move.
It is the visible outcome of gravity bending motion everywhere within its reach.
Just as ripples reveal wind but do not create it, curvature reveals gravity but does not generate it.
5. Why the Earth Appears Curved Today
The Earth appears curved because:
Gravity pulls equally toward the core from all directions
Matter settles into symmetrical balance
Motion continuously bends inward
This produces a spherical equilibrium.
But in PEI’s view, this shape is achieved, not assumed.
6. Space as a Volume of Influence
PEI defines space around Earth as the region influenced by Earth’s gravity:
Strongest at the core
Weakening outward
Eventually fading into flatness
Where gravity dominates, curvature dominates.
Where gravity disappears, flatness returns.
7. Why This Idea Matters
This perspective matters because it:
Restores gravity as a primary force
Treats geometry as descriptive rather than causal
Offers a simpler intuition for non-specialists
Aligns physics with common experience of motion
It also connects seamlessly with PEI’s broader philosophy across science and economics:
forces act first; patterns appear second.
PEI Summary Statement
The Earth is curved because gravity acts.
Remove gravity, and geometry flattens.
A Note to Readers and Supporters
PEI’s mission is not to overturn science, but to clarify it—to revisit fundamental assumptions with patience, intuition, and respect for evidence. By asking what causes what, we aim to build frameworks that are accessible, testable, and conceptually coherent.