NOMINALISM

Nominalism is the position that universals exist only as names or mental constructs—only particular individuals exist.

Medieval debates about universals. Roscelin (11th century). Peter Abelard developed conceptualism. William of Ockham systematised nominalism.

Roscelin, Peter Abelard, William of Ockham, empiricists: Locke, Berkeley, Hume, contemporary: Quine.

Universals only as names. Only particulars exist. Resemblance explaining similarity. Ockham’s razor: ontological parsimony.

Shaped medieval and early modern philosophy. Influenced empiricism. Ockham’s razor widely applied. Contemporary debates about universals.