William of Ockham

Eight Questions on the Power of the Pope

Examination of the pope's temporal and spiritual power limits

About the author

William of Ockham
William of Ockham

English Franciscan philosopher whose principle of parsimony—Ockham's Razor—remains the most quoted methodological rule in science and philosophy. His nominalism denied the existence of universals, shaping the empiricist tradition. He was excommunicated for opposing papal authority.

More by William of Ockham