nominalism
[ nom-uh-nl-iz-uhm ]
a philosophy that denies the existence of universal truths
USE 1
Nominalism challenges the traditional belief in universal concepts, arguing instead that our perceptions of similarities are constructed by individuals.
USE 2
Critics of nominalism often argue that it undermines the basis for objective knowledge, yet proponents see it as a liberation from the constraints of presumed universals.
USE 3
In the debate over the nature of categories, nominalism posits that they do not reflect inherent truths but are mere names or labels created for convenience.
