“Realism and Nominalism”
نویسنده
چکیده
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 still recognize them as belonging to the species “bird.” Realists argue that we recognize the species bird because all of the individual birds reflect a common “birdness” in which they participate. This “birdness” exists as a reality which is greater than and apart from any individual bird.
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