William of Ockham

GUILHERME DE OCCAM (1285 - 1347). Filósofo inglês, também conhecido como o "doutor invencível" (Doctor Invincibilis) e o "iniciador venerável" (Venerabilis Inceptor),

William of Ockham - Logica 1341

Guillelmus - Quaestiones in quattuor libros sententiarum - 4417303 Carta 25r

William of Ockham (also spelled William of Occam) was an English Franciscan friar, scholastic philosopher, and theologian, best known for the principle of Ockham's Razor. Born around 1287 in Ockham, Surrey, he became a significant figure in medieval thought, advocating for empiricism and the reduction of complex explanations to their simplest form. His work spanned various fields, including logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and political philosophy, making substantial contributions to each.

Life

Little is known about William's early life. He joined the Franciscan order early and studied theology at the University of Oxford. His critical views on the Papacy and the Avignon Papacy in particular, led to conflicts with the church authorities. Around 1324, William was summoned to Avignon to answer charges of heresy, but he continued to write and teach. Eventually, he fled Avignon and sought protection under the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV, where he continued his work until his death in 1347.

Philosophy and Contributions

William of Ockham is most renowned for articulating the principle of parsimony or "Ockham's Razor." This principle suggests that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. In philosophy, this was applied to argue against the existence of unnecessary entities, simplifying the complex theological and philosophical debates of his time.

1. 1. 1. Logic and Metaphysics

In logic, Ockham is known for his significant contributions to the development of nominalism, the doctrine that universal concepts are mere names without any corresponding reality. This was a departure from the realism of his predecessors, such as Thomas Aquinas, who argued that universals have a real existence. Ockham's work in metaphysics further explored the nature of reality, emphasizing the independence of the divine will and the contingency of the created world.

1. 1. 1. Epistemology

Ockham's epistemology focused on the limits of human knowledge. He argued that knowledge comes from sensory experience and that we can only have direct knowledge of individuals, not universals. This empirical approach laid the groundwork for later developments in British empiricism.

1. 1. 1. Political Philosophy

In political philosophy, William of Ockham advocated for the separation of Church and state, challenging the temporal authority of the Pope. He argued that the spiritual and temporal powers should be distinct, influencing later political thought, including that of John Locke.

Legacy

William of Ockham's influence extends beyond medieval philosophy into modern thought. His emphasis on simplicity and empirical evidence has resonated through the centuries, impacting various fields such as science, philosophy, and theology. Ockham's Razor remains a fundamental heuristic in scientific methodology, advocating for simplicity and parsimony in theory-making.

See Also

• Franciscan Order
• Scholasticism
• Medieval Philosophy
• Empiricism
• Nominalism
• Realism