How did William of Ockham distinguish faith from philosophical reasoning?

William of Ockham distinguished between faith and philosophical reasoning by emphasizing the limitations of human reason in attaining absolute truth. While he utilized logic as a fundamental tool for analyzing the world, he maintained that philosophy is often restricted to probable arguments, particularly when addressing profound theological subjects such as the existence of the Christian God.12

For Ockham, faith alone provides the necessary certitude for vital spiritual matters. This distinction was rooted in his view of God’s absolute freedom and omnipotence; because the universe was created freely by God, it could have been fashioned differently, rendering the natural order contingent rather than necessary. Consequently, Ockham did not place total trust in human reason to grasp divine realities, preferring to separate the domain of rational inquiry—which relies on probability—from the domain of faith, which offers definitive truth.12