nominalism
UK[ˈnɒmɪnəlɪzəm]US[ˈnɑːmɪnəlɪzəm]
n
A philosophical theory that general or abstract words (like "beauty" or "truth") and universals do not stand for objectively existing entities, and that only particular, individual things are real.
n
The practice in philosophy or other fields of treating things only by name, or of relying on names rather than realities.
Morpheme Breakdown
nominal
ism
nominal
name
ism
doctrine, system
Etymology
The term "nominalism" is built directly upon the Latin word nōmen, meaning "name." The philosophical doctrine emerged in the Middle Ages as a direct challenge to realism, which held that universal concepts (like "humanity" or "goodness") have a real, independent existence. Nominalists argued that these universals are merely nomina—names, labels, or mental conveniences we use to group similar individual objects, not entities in themselves. The suffix "-ism" systematizes this core idea, framing it as the distinctive doctrine that reality resides solely in particulars, and that general terms are useful linguistic constructs without corresponding metaphysical substances.
Analysis
Structure: nominal (name) + ism (doctrine, system)
- nominal: From Latin nōminālis (pertaining to a name), from nōmen (name). Functions as the core adjective/root meaning "of or relating to names".
- ism: A suffix from Greek -ismos, via Latin -ismus, forming nouns denoting a system, principle, or distinctive practice. Functions as a noun-forming suffix indicating a doctrine or theory.
Examples
The medieval debate between realism and nominalism centered on the ontological status of universals.
His approach to social categories was one of pragmatic nominalism, viewing them as analytical tools rather than reflections of an underlying essence.
Some critics argue that extreme nominalism leads to difficulties in accounting for the objective validity of logical and mathematical truths.