NOMINALISM Meaning and
Definition
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Nominalism is a philosophical doctrine that encompasses several interpretations and variations, but at its core, it refers to the belief that universals or abstract concepts do not have an inherent existence in reality beyond individual objects or particular instances. In other words, nominalism rejects the notion that there are universal, abstract categories that can be applied to multiple objects or experiences.
In nominalism, the focus is on individual, concrete entities rather than abstract ideas. Nominalists argue that general concepts, such as love or beauty, are only names or labels that human minds impose on specific instances or objects that share similar characteristics. Therefore, universal concepts are not real entities, but merely linguistic or mental constructs created by humans for convenience and communication purposes.
This philosophical stance has important implications in various fields, such as metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language. Nominalism challenges the belief in the objective reality of universals and questions the nature of knowledge, emphasizing the limitations of language and human understanding in capturing reality accurately.
Nominalism stands in contrast to realism, which posits the existence of universal, abstract entities that exist independently of individual objects. Various forms of nominalism have emerged throughout history, including conceptual nominalism, tropes nominalism, and resemblance nominalism. Each variation presents nuanced perspectives on the relationship between language, thought, and the external world, contributing to ongoing debates within philosophical discourse.
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The philosophical doctrine that general terms exist only in the mind, being simply ideas or mere words.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for NOMINALISM
Etymology of NOMINALISM
The word "nominalism" comes from the Latin term "nominālis", which means "pertaining to a name". The Latin word is derived from "nomen", meaning "name". The term "nominalism" was first used in medieval philosophy to refer to the belief that the universals, such as general concepts or categories, are only names or words without any independent reality. This philosophical perspective contrasted with its counterpart, "realism", which posited the existence of universal concepts as real entities. Over time, "nominalism" has been applied to various philosophical and linguistic contexts beyond its original medieval usage.
Similar spelling words for NOMINALISM
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