Christian Cyclopedia

As opposed to realism* and idealism,* it holds that only individual objects have real existence, that “universals” (gen. or abstract ideas) are but names (Lat. nomina); e.g., the gen. idea “tree” does not really exist in itself, only individual trees exist; all trees resemble each other; the mind can consider points of resemblance apart from points of difference, but the idea obtained by abstraction of all common points is only a name and has no indep. existence. Exponents of nominalism include P. Abelard,* G. Durandus* de Sancto Porciano, W. of Ockham,* and Roscellinus.* See also Philosophy.