Q0431
“Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.” — William of Ockham (Later summary of Ockham’s Razor)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Later summary of Ockham’s Razor. Theme: method.
English
Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Later summary of Ockham’s Razor and files it under Scholasticism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About William of Ockham
William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347) was an English Franciscan philosopher-theologian associated with late medieval nominalism.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably William of Ockham and Kwasi Wiredu), method is framed through Africana Philosophy and Scholasticism. Some passages define method; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through method, reason.
Concepts in this quote
- Method
- Method appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat method as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Reason
- Reason is the capacity to give and assess reasons—central to logic, science, ethics, and public argument.
How to cite this quotation
APA: William of Ockham. (n.d.). Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0431
MLA: William of Ockham. “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0431.
Chicago: William of Ockham. “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0431.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity.”?
The passage is attributed to William of Ockham, Later summary of Ockham’s Razor. The archive attributes this English wording to Later summary of Ockham’s Razor and files it under Scholasticism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does William of Ockham mean by method?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably William of Ockham and Kwasi Wiredu), method is framed through Africana Philosophy and Scholasticism. Some passages define method; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through method, reason.