nominalism
/nɒmɪˈnælɪzəm/ · nom·i·nal·ism
noun
- A philosophical position that holds that abstract concepts, such as numbers and universals, exist only as names or labels, and not as actual entities. The philosopher's nominalism led him to reject the idea of a universal concept of 'beauty.'
- A doctrine that emphasizes the importance of names and labels in understanding the world. The nominalist approach to language focuses on the role of words in shaping our perceptions.
adjective
- Related to or characteristic of nominalism. The nominalist philosopher's views on reality were influential in the development of modern thought.
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Did you know? The term 'nominalism' was popularized by the 14th-century philosopher William of Ockham, who argued that abstract concepts should be reduced to their simplest terms, eliminating unnecessary complexity.