Nominalism

Pronunciation: /ˈnɑmənəˌlɪzəm/

Definitions of nominalism

noun a philosophical theory that there are no universal essences in reality and that the only reality is the individual objects of sense experience

Example Sentences

A1 I don't understand the concept of nominalism.

A2 Nominalism is the belief that universals are not real entities.

B1 Many philosophers debate the merits of nominalism versus realism.

B2 Nominalism can be seen as a rejection of abstract concepts.

C1 The history of nominalism dates back to the Middle Ages.

C2 Scholars continue to explore the implications of nominalism in various fields.

Examples of nominalism in a Sentence

formal Nominalism is a philosophical theory that holds that universals or general ideas are mere names without any corresponding reality.

informal I find nominalism to be a fascinating concept in philosophy.

slang Some people think nominalism is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

figurative In the world of art, nominalism can be seen as focusing on the individual parts rather than the whole.

Grammatical Forms of nominalism

• plural: nominalisms
• comparative: more nominalistic
• superlative: most nominalistic
• present tense: nominalizes
• future tense: will nominalize
• perfect tense: has nominalized
• continuous tense: is nominalizing
• singular: nominalism
• positive degree: nominalistic
• infinitive: to nominalize
• gerund: nominalizing
• participle: nominalized

Origin and Evolution of nominalism

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: Nominalism originated in medieval philosophy as a theory that universals or abstract concepts exist only as names and do not have a real existence.

Evolution of the word: Over time, nominalism has evolved to encompass various philosophical and theological perspectives, including conceptualism and moderate realism.