PHIL 791 Thought of William of Ockham
This course mainly studies the epistemology, logic, semantic theories, and philosophical theology of the fourteenth-century Franciscan philosopher-theologian, William of Ockham (1285-1349). Ockham's theories of intuitive and abstractive cognition were central to late medieval epistemological discussions, but also provide the remote background for early modern epistemology; his logic and semantics influenced both the growing nominalist movement and the opposing realist school. Although we shall mainly examine texts from Ockham's Quodlibetal Questions and philosophical writings, some consideration will also be given to Ockham's political works. A reading knowledge of medieval Latin is recommended, but the works read are available, for the most part, in English translation.