William of Ockham

Middle Ages - Lords and Ladies

William of Ockham
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The following biography information provides basic facts and information about the key dates and events in the life of William of Ockham who was famous as a Medieval Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, from Ockham.

Short Biography profile and facts about the life of William of Ockham
The following biography information provides basic facts and information about the life and history of William of Ockham a famous Medieval character of the Middle Ages:

Nationality: English
Also Known as: William Occam
Lifespan: 1288 – 1348
Time Reference: Lived during the reigns of King Edward I, King Edward II and King Edward III
Date of Birth: He was born in 1288 in Ockham in Surrey
Early Life and Education: Taught by Franciscan Monks and then went to Oxford
Career:
Date of Death: William of Ockham died in Germany of the Black Death
Accomplishments or why William of Ockham was famous: Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher the author of many books
William of Ockham is regarded as the founder of a form of nominalism asserting that one could not know God through reason and rationality
Ockham's razor: The medieval rule of parsimony, or principle of economy, frequently used by Ockham came to be known as Ockham's razor - the simplest explanation to any problem is the best explanation
William of Ockham was accused of heresy in 1324 and fled to Germany where he spent the rest of his days living in abject poverty as required of a Fransiscan monk