Copernicus and the Scientific Revolution

Jeanly F. Patatag

Cebu Technological University - Main Campus

College Of Education

Science and Technology Society

Darlene Keziah Grace Recamara - Molato

October 25, 2024

 Copernicus and the Scientific Revolution

The Copernican Revolution is a transformative shift in the field of astronomy, which

marked a pivotal moment in the history of science. This revolution was lead by the Polish
astronomer Nicaulus Copernicus in the 16th century and transitioned humanity from a
geocentric understanding of the universe.

The Copernican Revolution was driven by a desire to satisfy the ancient Platonic
principle of uniform circular motion, which traditional astronomy failed to achieve.
Copernicus' theory was rooted in the idea of finding unity and harmony in the celestial
system. While heliocentric ideas had been pondered before, Copernicus was the first to
propose a comprehensive heliocentric theory that matched the predictive capability of the
geocentric Ptolemaic system. His work addressed the fundamental question of the
universe's organization and its relationship to Earth. One of the most revolutionary aspects
of Copernican astronomy was its assertion that astronomy should describe the real, physical
system of the world, in contrast to Platonic instrumentalism. This marked a shift in scientific
thinking, emphasizing the importance of understanding the physical reality of natural
phenomena.

His theory did not completely resolve all the difficulties posed by the Ptolemaic
system. It still required the use of epicycles and other geometric adjustments, as well as the
retention of some Aristotelian concepts like crystalline spheres. Questions regarding the
motion of Earth and its ability to sustain objects on its surface without them being flung into
space remained unanswered. I have observed that the Copernican system was not
immediately embraced universally. However, it gained acceptance over time through a
process of "victory by infiltration." There are even professional astronomers found aspects
of the new system indispensable for their work, even if they did not fully embrace its
cosmological hypothesis. The publication of "Tabulae prutenicae" by Erasmus Reinhold
further solidified the Copernican methods as essential tools for astronomers and astrologers.

Seeing the whole picture, you can see that the Copernican Revolution was a
paradigm shift, that laid the groundwork for the Scientific Revolution and the development
of modern science. Copernicus's dedication to finding a more harmonious and unified model
of the universe, as well as his insistence on describing the real physical system, has left a
lasting impact on the way we understand and investigate the cosmos. While the
Copernican system did not provide all the answers, its challenges spurred further scientific
exploration and set the stage for revolutionary developments in astronomy and the broader
field of science.
 References

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - "Nicolaus Copernicus"

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/copernicus/

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - "Scientific Revolution"

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-revolutions/

BBC History - "The Scientific Revolution"

https://www.historyextra.com/period/early-modern/scientific-revolution-global-
phenomemon/

The Galileo Project

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/home