nominalisten

Nominalism is a philosophical position that holds that only names (or concepts) have meaning and existence. It is opposed to realism, which holds that the world is composed of independent, mind-independent objects and properties. Nominalists argue that universals, such as the properties of being red or being a dog, do not exist independently of particular instances of those properties. Instead, they claim that these universals are merely names or concepts that we use to group and categorize particulars.

Nominalism has been a significant philosophical position throughout history, with notable proponents including William of Ockham and John Stuart Mill. Ockham's Razor, a principle of parsimony, is often associated with nominalism, as it suggests that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily. Nominalists often argue that universals are unnecessary, as they can be explained by the particulars they are attributed to.

There are different forms of nominalism. Substantive nominalism, also known as conceptualism, holds that universals are merely mental constructs or concepts. Moderate nominalism, on the other hand, allows for the existence of universals but denies that they are independent of particulars. Extreme nominalism, or conceptual nominalism, denies the existence of universals altogether.

Nominalism has been a subject of debate in metaphysics and the philosophy of language. Critics of nominalism argue that it leads to difficulties in explaining how we can have knowledge of universals, such as the property of being red, if they do not exist independently of particular instances. Proponents of nominalism, however, maintain that the difficulties can be overcome and that nominalism provides a more parsimonious and coherent view of the world.