Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus; German: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe. The publication of this model in his book De revolutionibus orbium coelestiumjust before his death in 1543 is considered a major event in the history of science, triggering the Copernican Revolution and making an important contribution to the Scientific Revolution...
NationalityPolish
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth19 February 1473
CountryPoland
Moreover, there is no difference between the earth's centers of gravity and magnitude.
Of all things visible, the highest is the heaven of the fixed stars.
To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.
Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe.
The Universe has been wrought for us by a supremely good and orderly Creator
At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun.
If there should chance to be any mathematicians who, ignorant in mathematics yet pretending to skill in that science, should dare, upon the authority of some passage of Scripture wrested to their purpose, to condemn and censure my hypothesis, I value them not, and scorn their inconsiderate judgement. De Revolutionibus Coelestibus
I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavour to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God.
Mathematics is written for mathematicians.
Not only the phenomena of the others followed from this, but also it so bound together both the order and magnitude of all the planets and the spheres and the heaven itself, that in no single part could one thing be altered without confusion among the other parts and in all the universe.
In the midst of all dwells the Sun. For who could set this luminary in another or better place in this most glorious temple, than whence he can at one and the same time brighten the whole.
Accordingly, since nothing prevents the earth from moving, I suggest that we should now consider also whether several motions suit it, so that it can be regarded as one of the planets. For, it is not the center of all the revolutions.
For what could be more beautiful than the heavens which contain all beautiful things.
I can easily conceive, most Holy Father, that as soon as some people learn that in this book which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies, I ascribe certain motions to the Earth, they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected.