Copernicus: Publish or Suppress (1543)
by Anonymous
Copernicus delayed publishing his heliocentric model for decades, fearing ridicule and Church reaction. He finally published 'De revolutionibus' just before his death, reportedly receiving the first printed copy on his deathbed.
Publish (De revolutionibus)
1543
year
Minimized — published as he was dying
personal risk
Launched the Scientific Revolution
scientific impact
Chosen — Copernican Revolution, influenced Galileo, Kepler, Newton
outcome
Suppress Findings
1543
year
None — maintain status quo
personal risk
Delayed heliocentrism by unknown years
scientific impact
Nearly chosen — manuscript circulated privately for decades
outcome
Want to make your own version?
Sign up to create your ownMore in History
Roman Capital: Rome vs Byzantium (330 CE)
Constantinople (Byzantium) vs Keep Rome as Capital vs Nicomedia
Genghis Khan: Unite the Mongol Tribes (1206)
Unite All Tribes as Genghis Khan vs Rule as Regional Clan Leader
Chernobyl: Response Strategy (1986)
Information Suppression (Chosen) vs Immediate Transparency and Evacuation
Turing: Breaking Enigma Methodology (1939)
Electromechanical Machine (Bombe) vs Mathematical Analysis Alone vs Rely on Captured Codebooks
Britain: Appeasement vs Confrontation with Hitler (1938)
Appeasement (Munich Agreement) vs Military Confrontation
Akbar the Great: Religious Tolerance Policy (1562)
Religious Tolerance (Sulh-i-Kul) vs Enforce Islamic Orthodoxy