The Ethical Philosophy of Guillelmus Ockhamiensis
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive presentation of the ethical philosophy of William of Ockham, a pivotal 14th-century medieval thinker who opposed theological determinism . The author examines Ockham's transition toward "eleutherocracy," which recognizes free will as the primary source of moral action. The study analyzes key concepts such as God, free will, right reason, and the virtues, highlighting the theocentric, voluntaristic, and rationalistic facets of Ockham's ethical system . A central theme is the distinction between "positive" and "non-positive" moral knowledge, where Ockham argues that while external acts are inherently neutral, their moral value is determined by the agent's intentions and conformity to right reason or divine command . The paper further explores the evolutionary stages of moral virtue—from initial obedience to reason to heroic bravery and absolute love for God—concluding that Ockham’s framework addresses both Christians and non-believers by anchoring morality in both faith and universal human logic.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Theodoropoulou, A. (2020). The Ethical Philosophy of Guillelmus Ockhamiensis . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (8), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22734
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- No. 8 (2011)
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- Articles
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