noun
- philosophical theories that deny the existence of abstract objects or universals, holding that only particular things exist
Usage: philosophy; plural form
Examples
- Medieval nominalisms challenged the idea that abstract concepts have independent existence.
- Different nominalisms emerged during the scholastic period.
- The professor compared various nominalisms in his lecture on metaphysics.
- Modern nominalisms continue to influence debates about the nature of properties.
- Students struggled to understand the distinctions between competing nominalisms.