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.
Edited by: Erwin L. Lueker, Luther Poellot, Paul Jackson
©Concordia Publishing House, 2000, All rights Reserved. Reproduced with Permission
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