Philosophical Writings A Selection, William Of Ockham By Philotheus Boehner
Book details
- Title
- Philosophical Writings A Selection, William Of Ockham By Philotheus Boehner
- Publication year listed
- 1900
- Format
- Public domain eBook
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- Free online reader; no registration required
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- View on Archive.org
About this book
Philosophical Writings A Selection, William Of Ockham By Philotheus Boehner
Author: William of Ockham
Year: 1900
1. Context William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347): English Franciscan friar, philosopher, and theologian. Known for nominalism (the view that universals are not real entities but mental constructs). His writings influenced late medieval scholasticism, early modern philosophy, and even modern scientific method. 2. Central Themes Logic & Language Ockham emphasizes the role of mental language (lingua mentalis) as the foundation of thought and communication. He develops a theory of supposition (reference of terms in propositions), crucial for medieval logic. Metaphysics Rejects the existence of real universals; only individual substances exist. Universals are merely names (nomina) or concepts used for classification. This stance challenges Aristotelian realism and reshapes scholastic metaphysics. Epistemology Knowledge arises from intuitive cognition (direct awareness of individual things) and abstractive cognition (generalization). He stresses empirical observation over metaphysical speculation. Theological Concerns Ockham defends the absolute power of God (potentia absoluta), arguing divine omnipotence is not bound by human logic. He critiques papal authority, contributing to debates on ch