Definition

1. Noun:
   • A philosophical doctrine: In philosophy, "nominalism" is the doctrine that universals or general concepts (like "beauty," "justice," or "humanity") are merely names or labels. It holds that only individual, particular objects are real, and that the common terms we use for groups of things do not refer to any real, shared essence or universal entity existing independently of the objects themselves.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The medieval debate between realism and nominalism concerned the nature of universals.
  • His argument was rooted in nominalism, asserting that the category "chair" is just a convenient label for a collection of individual objects with similar functions.

Advanced Usage

• "Conceptual nominalism": A specific form of nominalism focusing on the status of concepts in the mind.
  • Conceptual nominalism argues that general ideas exist only as mental constructs.
• "To adhere to nominalism": To follow or believe in the principles of nominalism.
  • The philosopher is known to adhere to a strict form of nominalism.

Variants and Related Words

• Nominalist (noun): A person who adheres to the doctrine of nominalism.
  • William of Ockham is a famous medieval nominalist.
• Nominalistic (adjective): Relating to or characteristic of nominalism.
  • His nominalistic approach rejects the existence of abstract entities.

Synonyms

• Terminism: (Historical, in medieval philosophy) A doctrine closely related to nominalism, emphasizing the role of terms or words.

Antonyms

• Realism: (In philosophy) The doctrine that universals or abstract concepts have a real, objective existence independent of individual objects and the mind.
• Conceptualism: A mediating doctrine that universals exist, but only as concepts within the mind.

Noun

1. (philosophy) the doctrine that the various objects labeled by the same term have nothing in common but their name