The famous scientist and philosopher known for his heliocentric theory is Nicolaus Copernicus. In the early 16th century, Copernicus proposed that the Earth revolves around the Sun, challenging the long-held geocentric view that placed the Earth at the center of the universe. His groundbreaking work, "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium," laid the foundation for modern astronomy and influenced future scientists like Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler.