>[!abstract] >The Copernican principle is the philosophical extension of Copernicus’s heliocentric insight, stating that humanity does not occupy a privileged or central position in the universe. It is a principle of mediocrity: our location, time, and circumstances are assumed to be typical rather than exceptional unless strong evidence suggests otherwise. This assumption underpins modern cosmology, influencing models such as the cosmological principle (that the universe is homogeneous and isotropic at large scales) and probabilistic reasoning about extraterrestrial life or the longevity of civilizations. It serves as a methodological caution against anthropocentric bias in scientific interpretation. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): [[Mediocrity principle]] >- **East** (different): [[Anthropic principle]] >- **South** (downstream): [[Cosmological principle]]