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![William of Occam]](../biography/images/occam_w.jpg)
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c. 1285-1349
William of Ockham, a thirteenth century English philosopher and Franciscan monk, is remembered for writing "non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem" or "plurality should not be posited without necessity."
Popularly termed "Occam’s Razor", this principle did not originate with William but was often used by him in his writings. Also termed the principle of unnecessary plurality or the principle of parsimony, today it is usually interpreted to mean "the simpler the explanation, the better" or "don't make any more assumptions than you have to."
William was excommunicated by Pope John XXII. He responded by writing a treatise demonstrating that Pope John was a heretic.
Portrait uncited.
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