7 Ulysses’ Compass
Mikołaj Kopernik (also known as Nicolaus Copernicus, 1473–1543): Polish astronomer, ecclesiastical lawyer, and blasphemer. Famous for his heliocentric model of the solar system, Kopernik argued for replacing the geocentric model, because the heliocentric model was more “harmonious.” This position eventually lead (decades later) to Galileo’s famous disharmony with, and trial by, the Church.
This story has become a fable of science’s triumph over ideology and superstition. But Kopernik’s justification looks poor to us now, ideology aside. There are two problems: The model was neither particularly harmonious nor more accurate than the geocentric model. The Copernican model was very complicated. In fact, it had similar epicycle ...
