Wednesday, March 23, 2016

WILLIAM OCCAM - 14 CENTURY – THE GRANDFATHER OF SCIENCE AND LOGIC





William Occam was a 14th century Franciscan monk that defied Pope John XXII by proclaiming ecclesiastical poverty was dictated by the Bible.   He also argued that religious beliefs and doctrines could not displace logic and science.   His outspoken beliefs resulted in charges of heresy and he was imprisoned and tortured until he recanted.  

William Occam was one of the most pivotal people responsible for moving the world from the Dark Ages of Christian imposed ignorance into an era of science and logic resulting in the technological advances of civilization to date. 

He is perhaps best known for Occam’s Razor stating: Entities must not be unnecessarily multiplied -  or – the simplest explanation from known facts is the best. 



William Occam was presented as the Sherlock Holmes of the 14 century in the novel The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco.   



The American novel is a translation from Italian.   This is one of the cases where the movie, starring Sean Connery is an excellent substitute.



The Name of the Rose is a riveting murder mystery taking place in a 14th century monastery and intertwined with the drama of religious inquisition. 








5 comments:

  1. I thought the book was better than the movie, but the movie was good too, of course.

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  2. I liked both but like Debra prefered the book..

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  3. Occam's Razor is sound advice when considering the observable world we live in. But it does not keep me from wondering about what we have not observed that intuition tells me is really what the ice berg is made of.

    Liked the movie immensely. Never read the book.

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  4. Always liked Sean Connery and the movie. Might need to read the book.

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  5. Read the book years ago but with no Church Latin, 25% of it was incomprehensible to me. May have to try again. Will also watch the movie.

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COMMENT: Ben Franklin said, "I imagine a man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all doctrines he holds are true, and all he rejects are false."