nominalism
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nominalism
From the French word nominalisme, dating back to 1830–40. See nominal, -ism
Vocabulary lists containing nominalism
Ancient Philosophy
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Medieval Europe - Middle School
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Medieval Europe - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the U.N., he rejected a “declarationist nominalism which would assuage our consciences.”
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 30, 2015
Such is the magnitude of these situations and their toll in innocent lives, that we must avoid every temptation to fall into a declarationist nominalism which would assuage our consciences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2015
This last position, indeed, is limited by the lingering influence of nominalism, which holds the concepts of the mind to be merely abstract copies, and not archetypes of things.
From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Falckenberg, Richard
Fitzjames, in fact, found in the 'Science of Thought' a scientific exposition of the nominalism which he had more or less consciously accepted from Hobbes or Horne Tooke.
From The Life of Sir James Fitzjames Stephen, Bart., K.C.S.I. A Judge of the High Court of Justice by Stephen, Leslie, Sir
He studied under Anselm of Laon and Roscellinus, his training in philosophy thereby being influenced by both realism and nominalism.
From Historia Calamitatum by Abelard, Peter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
