Nicholas Copernicus hesitated to publish his De Revolutionibus because:
A) the implications of his theory of heliocentricity greatly troubled him.
B) he feared a Lutheran reaction would produce social unrest in Poland.
C) he had been ordered by the Inquisition not to express his theories in any form.
D) he was a slow worker who was never satisfied with his writings.
E) he was a methodical researcher who was always looking for more data.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Copernicus was hesitant to publish his theory of heliocentricity because it contradicted the prevailing belief in the geocentric model of the universe, and he feared the implications of challenging the established order. He did eventually publish De Revolutionibus in 1543, but only after he was on his deathbed and had received encouragement from others.

Nicholas Copernicus Hesitated to Publish His De Revolutionibus Because