Abstract

While both defended the doctrine of univocity of being, John Duns Scotus (1265/66-1308) and William of Ockham (1288-1347) developed deeply different metaphysics. The present article aims to provide a critical exam of the main arguments marshaled by Ockham to show the weaknesses of Duns Scotus’s doctrine. The article will focus on the concept of “differentia ultimaµ, as the key to understand the different points of view of Scotus and Ockham concerning the relation between the one and the many. Finally, this paper showcases, insofar as possible, the turning point represented by Ockham’s metaphysics in the history of Medieval Philosophy.