realistnominalist

Realistnominalism is a philosophical position concerning the existence and nature of universals. It is a complex view that attempts to reconcile aspects of both realism and nominalism. Realists generally hold that universals, such as redness or justice, exist independently of particular things that instantiate them, and are real entities. Nominalists, on the other hand, deny the existence of universals, asserting that only particulars exist and that terms we use to refer to universals are mere names or linguistic conventions.

Realistnominalism, as its name suggests, occupies a middle ground. Proponents of this view might accept that universals exist but not in the same way that a realist would claim. Instead of universals being abstract, mind-independent entities, a realistnominalist might argue that universals are real but are dependent on the particulars that exhibit them. They are not separate from the things themselves but are instead properties that are real in virtue of being instantiated. This is distinct from strict nominalism, which would deny the reality of properties as distinct entities, and from strict realism, which would posit universals as independent of their instances. The precise formulation of realistnominalism can vary, with different thinkers emphasizing different aspects of the relationship between universals and particulars.