who was more revolutionary, Kepleror Copernicus

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Who was more revolutionary, Copernicus or Kepler ?

Throughout history, there have been a number of scientific discoveries which have helped to shape our lives in every way, even to this day. However, there has been much dispute between scientists, philosophers and free thinkers upon where the difference lies between a discovery or a revolution. For example, does a scientist classify as a revolutionary if he is simply building on another scientist’s idea ? Who is more revolutionary- the person who came up with the original theory or the person that was able to prove it by scientific means ? The concept of a revolutionary can be explored through the astronomists, Copernicus and Kepler. Copernicus based his theory around planetary movement, stating that while the other planets appeared to be moving backwards, this was just an observation that was not true. He illustrated this theory in more detail by using the backdrop of stars. Kepler also looked at planetary movement, stating that the planets circulated epileptically, opposed to Aristotle’s old theory of perfect circular motion.

Before looking at the scientists work themselves, we must first define the term ‘revolutionary’ and then explain the difference between discovery and scientifically based revolutions. Though it is difficult to define what a revolution truly is, it can be said to be an idea which is not only able to disprove its previous theory but is also able to benefit society in the way that other discoveries will be developed on the revolutionary theory. In this sense, it can be said that a revolution can really only be defined if a someone is able to make a breakthrough (in this case scientific) which in effect is able to change the way in which the field the revolution was made in is perceived. This is quite distinct in the way that a ‘discovery’ can be made. A discovery is seen more as an idea that has been developed upon the revolutionary theory. Despite how this could make radical changes to the field in which the discovery is made, it can be argued that this is not a revolutionary idea as it is developed upon an existing theory and is therefore not a new concept. This provides the basis of this essay; while some argue that Kepler and Copernicus were revolutionary in the way that they presented such radical ideas of their time , though it can be argued that because their theory was based on that of Aristotle’s previous idea. This then begs the question ; Who was the most revolutionary of the two scientists, if any of them at all ?

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Copernicus was the first scientist to prove a scientific basis for ‘heliocentric cosmology’  or the theory that the sun is in the center of the universe, with the rest of the planets rotating around it. He developed this theory after years of research, and he formulated (with a combination of mathematics, geometry and logic) that Earth, as well as the rest of the other planets in the universe rotate around the sun, with the earth being able to do so in 365 days (1 year) Furthermore, the Earth also rotated itself on its axis for 24 hours a day, ...

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