Who is William of Ockham and why is he important in the history of philosophy?

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In summary, Ockham has become one of the major figures of scholastic thought in modern times, often ranked alongside Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus. His work in terminist logic, linguistic theory, and semiotics has made him a popular source for contemporary philosophical discussions. There is a book called "Aristotle's Children" that delves into the medieval understanding and critical thought about Aristotle, with a particular focus on Ockham and Buridan. It is interesting to see how these thinkers from the past have influenced our current knowledge and understanding.
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wolram
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http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Ockham.html

... with the revival of interest in late medieval thought that took place in the second half of the twentieth century, Ockham has re-emerged as one of the major figures of scholastic thought, generally ranked on the level of Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus. And from the standpoint of the philosophy of the 1980s and 1990s, Ockham's interest in terminist logic, linguistic theory, and semiotics has placed him in the forefront of those medieval thinkers used as sources in contemporary philosophical discussion.

Often quoted but how many know his story ?
 
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There's a good book on the medieval thinkers called Aristotle's Children. It takes the growing medieval understanding and critical thought about Aristotle through the generations. Okham and my own fave, Buridan are well described.
 
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selfAdjoint said:
There's a good book on the medieval thinkers called Aristotle's Children. It takes the growing medieval understanding and critical thought about Aristotle through the generations. Okham and my own fave, Buridan are well described.

It is a sort of eye opener that that people far back in time sewed the seeds
of what we know today, Self Adjoint, i wonder how many would have to be
included ?
 

Related to Who is William of Ockham and why is he important in the history of philosophy?

What is Ockham's Razor?

Ockham's Razor, also known as the principle of parsimony, is a philosophical principle that states that the simplest explanation is usually the most correct one. It is often used in scientific reasoning to determine the most likely explanation for a phenomenon.

Who came up with Ockham's Razor?

The principle is named after William of Ockham, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian. However, similar ideas can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato.

How is Ockham's Razor used in science?

In science, Ockham's Razor is used as a tool to evaluate competing theories or explanations for a phenomenon. The simplest explanation that can account for the available evidence is usually favored as the most likely one. This helps scientists avoid unnecessary assumptions and complexities.

Is Ockham's Razor always applicable?

No, Ockham's Razor is not a strict rule that must always be followed. It is a philosophical principle that can guide scientific reasoning, but there may be situations where a more complex explanation is actually the correct one. It is up to the scientist to use their judgement and evaluate the evidence before applying Ockham's Razor.

What are the potential limitations of Ockham's Razor?

Ockham's Razor is not a foolproof method and has some limitations. It can only be applied to situations where there are competing explanations, and it may not always lead to the correct conclusion. Additionally, what constitutes as "simple" can be subjective and vary from person to person.

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