William of Ockham

William of Ockham was a medieval philosopher known for his principle of parsimony, often summarized as "Ockham's Razor," which suggests that the simplest explanation is usually the best. In discussions of universals and particulars, he argued that abstract concepts (like "redness") exist only as names or ideas, not as real entities. He focused on the logic of conditionals, emphasizing how statements can guide reasoning. Ockham also examined the relationship between divine attributes and free will, suggesting that God’s foreknowledge does not negate human freedom, preserving the balance between divine omniscience and human agency.