

His work in this period became the subject of controversy, and many scholars have thought that Ockham was summoned before the Papal court of Avignon in 1324 under charges of heresy, though an alternative theory recently proposed by George Knysh suggests that he was initially appointed there as professor of philosophy in the Franciscan school, and that his disciplinary difficulties did not begin until 1327. Because of this, he acquired the byname Venerabilis Inceptor, or "Worthy Beginner" (although he was also known as the Doctor Invincibilis or unconquerable teacher).

He is believed to have studied theology at the University of Oxford from 1309 to 1321, but never completed his master's degree (the usual undergraduate degree in those times). William of Ockham joined the Franciscan order at a young age. William of Ockham - Sketch labelled "frater Occham iste", from a manuscript of Ockham's Summa Logicae, 1341 Life File:William of Ockham - Logica - 1341.jpg Although he is commonly known for Occam's razor, the methodological principle that bears his name, William of Ockham also produced significant works on logic, physics, and theology.

He is considered - along with Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and the Islamic scholar Averroes - to be one of the major figures of medieval thought and was at the centre of the major intellectual and political controversies of the fourteenth century. 1348) was an England Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, from a place named Ockham in Yorkshire, or possibly Surrey. William of Ockham (also Occam, Hockham, or any of several other spellings, Template:Pron-en) (c.
