The Work of Ninety Days

The Work of Ninety Days is a theological and political treatise written by William of Ockham in 1333. The text serves as Ockham's direct response to Pope John XXII's claims about papal power and authority. In this work, Ockham challenges specific statements from Pope John XXII's writings through systematic theological and philosophical arguments. The treatise follows a structured format where Ockham examines and counters each papal assertion point by point. Over the course of ninety days of writing, Ockham develops his case using scripture, church teachings, and logical reasoning to address the relationship between spiritual and temporal power. The text represents a key moment in medieval debates about church authority and political sovereignty. The Work of Ninety Days stands as an exploration of fundamental questions about power, truth, and the limits of religious authority. Through his analysis, Ockham presents ideas about individual rights and the separation of church and state that would influence centuries of Western political thought.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of William of Ockham's overall work: Readers note Ockham's texts require significant background knowledge in medieval philosophy and Latin to comprehend. Students and scholars praise his logical precision and clear argumentation style in "Summa Logicae." What readers liked: - Clear presentation of complex philosophical concepts - Systematic breakdown of logical principles - Influence on modern scientific thinking - Direct challenges to established authority What readers disliked: - Dense, technical language - Limited English translations available - Requires extensive context to understand - Some arguments feel dated or overly focused on religious matters Due to the specialized academic nature of Ockham's works, most reviews come from philosophy students and scholars rather than general readers. On Academia.edu, his works receive consistent attention from researchers, with "Summa Logicae" being his most-referenced text. Goodreads ratings are limited, with "Ockham: Philosophical Writings" averaging 4.1/5 stars across 89 ratings. A philosophy student noted: "His arguments are precise but require multiple readings to grasp fully."

Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas This foundational text of medieval theology explores questions of faith, reason, and natural law through systematic philosophical arguments.

On the Freedom of a Christian by Martin Luther The text presents theological arguments about individual faith and church authority using similar logical structures to challenge established doctrines.

Ordinatio by John Duns Scotus The work demonstrates medieval scholastic methodology through detailed analysis of theological concepts and their logical implications.

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius This philosophical dialogue examines free will, divine foreknowledge, and human reason using logical argumentation common to medieval theological texts.

The Guide for the Perplexed by Moses Maimonides The text reconciles religious faith with philosophical reasoning through systematic arguments and careful textual analysis.

🔖 Written during William of Ockham's exile in Munich in 1333, this work (Opus Nonaginta Dierum) was composed in just ninety days as a response to Pope John XXII's views on apostolic poverty. 🔖 The book focuses on the controversial debate about whether Jesus and his apostles owned property, a theological dispute that had significant political implications in medieval Europe. 🔖 Ockham's writing in this text helped establish the foundation for modern concepts of individual rights and the separation of church and state. 🔖 Despite being a Franciscan friar, Ockham risked excommunication by challenging papal authority in this work, arguing that even the Pope could fall into heresy. 🔖 The text demonstrates Ockham's famous principle of parsimony (known as "Ockham's Razor") in action, as he systematically dismantles complex theological arguments with simpler, more logical explanations.