Ep 5. Reanimated History - The Copernican Ruin-aissance

In the fifth episode of the fourth season of Adam Ruins Everything, titled "Reanimated History - The Copernican Ruin-aissance," host Adam Conover explores the history of science and how the work of Nicholas Copernicus both revolutionized and complicated our understanding of the universe.

Adam begins by introducing Copernicus as the man who first proposed that the Earth revolves around the Sun, challenging the long-held belief that the Earth was the center of the universe. While this discovery is often hailed as a great scientific breakthrough, Adam explains that it also had some unintended consequences, including the rise of a new pseudoscience: astrology.

To understand how this happened, Adam takes viewers on a journey through the history of astronomy and astrology. He explains that before Copernicus, people believed that the stars and planets had a direct influence on our lives on Earth, and that by studying these celestial bodies, they could predict the future and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.

When Copernicus proposed his heliocentric theory, it challenged this worldview, as it suggested that the positions and movements of the planets were not directly tied to human affairs. However, instead of abandoning astrology altogether, many people simply adapted it to fit with the new theory. They argued that the positions of the planets still had an influence on us, but that this influence was mediated through the Sun, rather than directly.

Adam goes on to explore how this new form of astrology became wildly popular in the Renaissance, thanks in large part to the work of Johannes Kepler, a contemporary of Copernicus. Kepler was a brilliant mathematician who used Copernican theory to develop a new model of the solar system, but he was also a devout believer in astrology.

Adam explains that Kepler saw no contradiction between his scientific work and his astrological beliefs, and in fact saw astrology as a vital component of his research. He believed that by studying the movement and positions of the planets, he could gain insights into how God had created the universe and how it functioned.

However, as Adam points out, this kind of thinking led to some truly bizarre and dangerous practices. For example, Kepler believed that the alignment of planets could have disastrous consequences on Earth, and as a result, he advised rulers and military leaders on when to launch attacks and when to avoid them, based on the positions of the planets.

Adam also explores how this kind of thinking extended beyond astrology to other areas of science. He explains that in the Renaissance, people were obsessed with discovering hidden meanings and secret codes in everything from literature to the natural world. This led to a proliferation of strange and often completely unfounded theories, such as the idea that the human body was composed of the same four elements found in the universe (earth, air, fire, and water), or that certain herbs and plants had mystical properties that could cure all manner of diseases.

Throughout the episode, Adam uses humor and wit to shed light on some of the stranger and more absurd aspects of science and history, helping viewers to see how even the greatest minds of the past were not immune to errors in judgment and belief. By the end of the episode, viewers will have a deeper appreciation for the complexity and messiness of scientific progress, and the importance of questioning even our most cherished beliefs and assumptions.