Abstract

Since William of Ockham has never made a systematic and thorough analysis of the anthropological issue, the author reconstructs the theme on the basis of considerations taken from his several physical and theological works. The Ockhamist methodological approach is the same used to study the natural world: experience-based knowledge, individual- based terminist logic and the principle of economy. However, Ockham stresses the individual against the deterministic universe of matter. It is a privileged entity: with its nature of material being, it takes part of the features and perfections of the natural world- both inanimate and animate beings; and with its freedom, it infinitely transcends the deterministic universe of physics. Taking the above as a starting point, the author considers, firstly, the physical and metaphysical definitions given by the philosopher; and she shows the consequences resulting from them and the specific limitations established by Ockham. Then, she analyzes the main constituent of both definitions: the spiritual soul; she does so by examining the main features is a central point in the Ockhamist anthropology where the mere reason is insufficient to reach the truth; it is the faith the one that should complete the scope of this knowledge.