Nicholas Copernicus hesitated to publish his De Revolutionibus because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nicholas Copernicus knew that his theory of heliocentricity went against the widely accepted geocentric view of the time, which placed the Earth at the center of the universe. Copernicus feared that his theory may be seen as heretical and could be met with great opposition from the Church, which had traditionally been the authority on matters related to the natural world. Additionally, Copernicus was a devout Catholic and did not wish to be seen as undermining the authority of the Church. Therefore, he hesitated to publish his work, which was only released shortly before his death.

Nicholas Copernicus Hesitated to Publish His De Revolutionibus Because