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So it really is a matter of perspective. To a Flatlander, walking along any line of latitude is walking straight. They may even claim that their perspective is more "correct" since they can walk straight along any line of latitude and you can't, and thus their theory is more "complete." I suppose then that a one-dimensional being who sees everything as a point, and can't differentiate line lengths like a Flatlander, would have an even more complete theory.
To us three-dimensional beings, walking along any line of latitude is not walking straight (except for the equator). From the perspective of someone on the sphere, standing upright, such a latitude is curved. And for us, facing east does not mean maintaining an eastward bearing. It only means facing east. We can't jump to the conclusion that "faces East and walks 8 miles in a straight line" means to stay on an eastward bearing since eastward travel is not a straight line. Facing east just tells you how far to turn to the left. Both are right. It's all a matter of perspective. |
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