William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347) was an English philosopher and theologian, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in late scholastic thought. He is best known for his contributions to logic, metaphysics, epistemology, theology, and for his principle of parsimony, commonly known as Ockham’s Razor.

Born in Ockham, Surrey, England, he joined the Franciscan Order and studied theology at the University of Oxford. In 1324, he was accused of heresy due to his challenges to the doctrines of Pope John XXII and his views on poverty and ecclesiastical authority. Fleeing to Munich under the protection of Emperor Louis IV, he spent the rest of his life writing against papal authority. He likely died of the Black Death in 1347.

Ockham is a key proponent of nominalism, the view that universals (such as humanity or redness) are not independently existing entities but names or mental constructs we use to group individual things based on similarities. He argued that only individual things (particulars) exist in reality, challenging the realism of thinkers like Plato and Aquinas.

Ockham’s work is closely associated with the idea that entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity. This principle, often called Ockham’s Razor, is a methodological guideline favoring simplicity in philosophical and scientific explanations. Ockham applied this principle to argue against unnecessary ontological entities, such as Platonic forms or extraneous divine attributes.

In epistemology, Ockham emphasized direct perception of particulars as the foundation of knowledge, rejecting complex theories of abstraction. He advanced logical theory, including propositional logic and semantic analysis, and argued that mental concepts are the ultimate medium of thought, not spoken or written language.

In theology, Ockham argued for the separation of theology from philosophy, maintaining that many theological truths, such as the existence of God, are matters of faith rather than philosophical demonstration. He defended divine omnipotence, emphasizing God’s free will over human logic or necessity, and opposed the material wealth of the Church, supporting apostolic poverty.

Ockham’s work contributed to the decline of scholasticism by challenging established metaphysical systems and emphasizing empirical and individualistic approaches to knowledge. His nominalism and logical rigor influenced later philosophers like Descartes, Hobbes, and early empiricists. Ockham’s Razor remains a foundational heuristic in scientific reasoning. William of Ockham is remembered as a critic of unnecessary complexity and a central figure in the transition from medieval to modern philosophy. His ideas remain relevant in contemporary discussions of metaphysics, logic, and science.

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