Two years after the conflict began, Pope John XXII excommunicated William of Ockham, a prominent Franciscan philosopher known for his strong arguments and the title of "invincible doctor." Ockham championed nominalism, a philosophy that suggested an intuitive understanding of the physical world, which posed a significant challenge to the authority of the Church. This led the Pope to view Ockham's ideas as a threat to the established religious order, prompting the excommunication to suppress such independent thought.

In response to his excommunication, Ockham did not remain silent; he accused John XXII of seventy errors and seven heresies. This bold counterattack illustrated Ockham's commitment to intellectual freedom and highlighted the broader struggle between emerging philosophical ideas and traditional religious doctrines. The tension between Ockham's innovative thinking and the Pope's authority underscored a critical moment in the intellectual history of the 14th century.