Whose theory of the universe was a law even though it was wrong?

Answer 1

The most prominent example of a theory of the universe being incorrect is the Ptolemaic model. This model developed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century held that the Earth was the center of the universe and that all other celestial bodies revolved around it. This model was later disproven by Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century who proposed that the Sun was the center of the universe not the Earth.

The Ptolemaic model also stated that the planets stars and the Sun revolve around the Earth in circular orbits. This is contrary to modern scientific understanding which states that the planets and stars move in elliptical orbits.

Answer 2

Aristotle and his student Plato (c. 300 BC), and eponymous astronomer Claudius Ptolemy (c 150 AD).

The geocentric Ptolemaic theory of the solar system lasted for over 1300 years, and was replaced by the heliocentric Copernican system, later refined by Kepler's laws and Newton's theory of gravity. But it was not necessarily 'wrong'. Scientific theories are never 'right' because proofs do not exist in the physical sciences. Theories can only be proved wrong by observations that don't agree with them. The Ptolemaic theory was accepted until observations were refined and it was realized a better theory would be needed to explain the observed motions.
Aristotle ranks as perhaps the "wrong-est" person in history.
The Ptolemaic theory was held to be true for about 1500 years until replaced by the Copernican system.

When one theory is replaced by another, it does not mean that the old one was wrong. It just did not work as well as the later theory.

The Ptolemaic theory had the Earth at the centre and the Moon, Sun and planets in orbit round the Earth. It predicted the positions of planets pretty well.

Later the heliocentric theory, with the Sun at the centre, was adopted. It was first proposed by Copernicus in 1543 and in the centuries after that it was gradually adopted by more and more people until now it is generally accepted.

But for that to happen scientists had to wait until enough discoveries had been made to back the new theory up, and that took a long time.

Answer 3

It was believed for a long time that the Earth was at the centre of the Universe because no-one could feel it moving and no parallax could be observed among the stars. So everything appeared fixed and motionless.

Copernicus brought out a theory that the movements of the planets could be more simply explained by assuming the Sun is at the centre, which contradicted common sense at that time, but it could be used as a theory or model to predict events in the sky.

After Newton's theories were published and tested, it was discovered that the Sun is 330,000 times more massive than the Earth, which was the proof that people needed and now it is generally accepted that the Sun is at the centre of the solar system, but we also know that the Sun is moving round the centre of the Galaxy and that the Galaxy is one of many swilling around and crashing into each other in the Universe.

Answer 4

Religion believes the universe was created in many different ways, but science has proved it all to be wrong.

For Catholics the universe was created in 7 days.

we know for fact that the universe is over 13.7 billion years old.

so all religions believe they are correct but the time line is wrong; ergo anyone who believes a deity created the universe in a few days is wrong.

Another view

The geocentric theory (where all astronomical bodies orbited the earth), promulgated by Ptolemy, held sway for centuries.

Answer 5

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that the Universe was composed of 56 perfect circles, the 56th being the dome surrounding the Earth. He was the first person to come up with a law about the Universe, but another Greek named Thales was the first to use scientific knowledge and come up with answers about outer space. Aristotle's theory was used for about 2,000 years - but he was wrong.

Answer 6

I'm going to go way out on a limb here and say "Ptolemy", who may have single-handedly set science back at least a thousand years. Well, that's not quite fair. It wasn't him so much as it was the literally generations of idiots who blindly accepted whatever bilge came out of his pie-hole.

Answer 7

Aristotle's theory of the universe was held as law for thousands of years although he was wrong.

Answer 8

stupid computer that is what im trying to find out.

Answer 9

No point blaming me :-)

Geocentrism, which placed the Earth at the center of the Universe.

Answer 10

The theory that the Earth is the center of the Universe and that the stars are on a sphere that rotates around the Earth (Ptolemaic theory)