William of Ockham
1287 – 1347 English philosopher, theologian
The logician of Ockham's razor, who prized the simplest explanation.
- Religion
- Christian; a Franciscan friar who clashed with the papacy over church poverty.
- Affiliations
- Franciscan Order. No secret society.
William of Ockham argued that explanations should not multiply entities beyond need, the principle known as Ockham's razor. His nominalism denied that universals exist apart from things, reshaping medieval philosophy. His stress on individuals and evidence helped clear the way for modern science.