Nominalism and Material Plenitude

Essence, Plenitude, and Paradox

“Realism and Nominalism”

For much of the High Middle Ages, the conflict between Plato and Aristotle took the form of lengthy debates over the nature of universals. Philosophers of a Platonic bent came to be known as “Realists” because they argued that universals had a real existence apart from the specific objects in which they dwelled. For example, we observe birds of many different shapes, sizes, and colors, but stil...

Constructive Empiricism And Modal Nominalism

James Ladyman has argued that constructive empiricism entails modal realism, and that this renders constructive empiricism untenable. We maintain that constructive empiricism is compatible with modal nominalism. Although the central term ‘observable’ has been analyzed in terms of counterfactuals, and in general counterfactuals do not have objective truth conditions, the property of being observ...

Getting Realistic about Nominalism

In this paper I examine critically the relationship between the realist and nominalist views of abstract objects. I begin by pointing out some differences between the usage of existential statements in metaphysics and the usage of such statements in disciplines outside of philosophy. Then I propose an account of existence that captures the characteristic intuitions underlying the latter kind of...

Nominalism - New World Encyclopedia

ions. He thus rejected any systematization of theology based on abstractions. He was interested in factual plurality in the world. So, he only accepted the Catholic theological teachings in the realm of faith. Nominalism New World Encyclopedia http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nominalism 2 of 7 1/31/2014 6:09 PM Gabriel Biel (c. 1420-1495), a follower of the nominalism of William of Ock...