OCKHAM, William of (1285-1349):
English FRANCISCAN MONK who was the most important
scholastic philosopher and interpreter of ARISTOTLE after AQUINAS. He is known for his
radical NOMINALISM and agreement with the FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALS against the POPE for which
was eventually excommunicated after a dispute about TRANSUBSTANTIATION. His maxim, known
as OCKHAM'S RAZOR, states that "Entities are not to be multiplied without
necessity," or, as he stated, "It is vain to do with more what can be done with
fewer." The meaning of this is that things should be interpreted using the least
number of assumptions or hypotheses.
