nominalism

American  

[nom-uh-nl-iz-uhm] / ˈnɒm ə nlˌɪz əm /

noun

1. (in medieval philosophy) the doctrine that general or abstract words do not stand for objectively existing entities and that universals are no more than names assigned to them.

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nominalism British  

/ ˈnɒmɪnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the philosophical theory that the variety of objects to which a single general word, such as dog, applies have nothing in common but the name Compare conceptualism realism

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Other Word Forms

• nominalist noun
• nominalistic adjective
• nominalistically adverb
• nonnominalistic adjective
• unnominalistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of nominalism

From the French word nominalisme, dating back to 1830–40. See nominal, -ism

Example Sentences

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

Modern thought, especially, is passing from an excessive nominalism to a more realistic habit; by many a broad induction, from mere details to a rounded whole: And nowhere more persistently than in relation to institutions.

From The History of Dartmouth College by Smith, Baxter Perry

An all-pervading nominalism has completely masked whatsoever there is that is real.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864 by Various

Conceptualism sought to unite realism and nominalism through the conception of mind, or an individual substance whose meanings may possess universal validity.

From The Approach to Philosophy by Perry, Ralph Barton