William of Ockham (1280-1349)

Major work

•          Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Abelard

Importance

•          Medieval English theologian

•          Held to nominalism

•          Famous for "Ockham’s Razor" in which he claims that hypotheses should not be multiplied endlessly. Thus, the simplest solution for a matter is better than complicated ones.

•          Had conflict with Pope John XXII

•          Believed in priority of divine will over divine intellect

•          Contributed to discussions of divine omnipotence

•          Influenced by Duns Scotus

•          Died of Black Death