William of Occam and His Philosophy

English Philosopher and Friar, Famous for Occam's Razor

Sep 19, 2009

The philosophy of William of Occam advocated the idea that it is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer, and that in reality, everything is singular.

William of Occam (or Ockham) was an English philosopher and Franciscan Friar, considered a major figure of medieval thought in his day. Famous for his Sum of Logic written before 1327, he was embroiled in the intellectual and political controversies of the time.

Brief Biography of William of Occam

William of Occam (c.1288-1347) was sometimes called William of "Ockham" from speculation that he might have been born at Ockham in Surrey or Ockham in Yorkshire. He was a political and religious "activist" in trouble with the Church for most of his life on account of his teachings.

He is well-remembered in philosophical schools for the adage known as Occam's Razor which declares, "It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer."

A Bachelor of Oxford, he fled to Munich after called to defend his views in front of Papal commission at Avignon on 1324. William of Occam died in 1347, most probably from the Black Death raging in Munich during the time. He had hoped for reconciliation with the Church.

Occam's Razor Principle

This Occam's Razor principle is a methodological principle which concerns ontology. It reflects the idea that given two theories that equally explain an idea, one should choose the theory which posits the minimum number of entities.

The principle underlies both Occam's epistemology (theory of knowledge) and his metaphysics. He believes that universals only exist as part of human understanding. In other words, any object that is united by some common form or feature, is purely an invention of the human understanding, that in reality everything is singular. This makes him a "nominalist" which opposes to Plato's idea of abstract, universal forms that are archetypes of individuals and objects.

The Idea that Everything is Singular

Occam upheld both the possibility of free will and moral responsibility of an individual. By this, he argued that reality is composed of singular objects existing independently and absolutely, and that they only gain their existence by being posited by God, although remaining independent of divine machinations.

Insight to William of Occam's Philosophy

Before being accused of heresy and fleeing to Munich which was plague-ridden that time, Occam taught in Oxford. "Occam's Razor" principle is perceived as a precursor of the logical atomism of later philosophers, in particular, Bertrand Russell, and the early philosophy of Wittgenstein.

His most important work, Sum of Logic (before 1327,) sets out the basis of his logical approach to questions of metaphysics. He uses a syllogistic logic: that from the combination of two existing statements, a proposition is inferred.

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