Occam's Razor, or more properly "“Ockham's Razor”, is named after the late medieval theologian William of Ockham. Occam's razor is the idea that simpler explanations are more likely to be true than complex ones. William of Ockham (c. 1287–1347) is, along with Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus, among the most prominent figures in the history of philosophy during the High Middle Ages. He is probably best known today for his espousal of metaphysical nominalism.