William of Ockham and the Skeptical Challenge in the Quodlibeta Septem

Abstract

After analyzing the Quodlibeta Septem it is possible to state that Ockham’s epistemology leads to skeptical conclusions. This statement is grounded on my interpretation of the way in which any cognition process of singular entities develops. My interpretation might be expressed in two propositions: 1) the intuitive and abstractive cognitions are different forms of a simple assent, and 2) within his own espistemological system, Ockham tries to avoid skeptical conclusions by way of reflexive cognitions. Nevertheless, the idea of reflexive cognitions would not let us justify which thoughts are true. In Ockham’s epistemology, the idea of reflexive cognitions does not solve the skeptical challenge.