Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome | |||
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Nominalism: nominalism is the view that universals (for example, triangles, blackness) are merely artificial constructions from individual cases. The linguistic expressions are merely names for these constructs. See also universalism, conceptualism, general terms, categories, generalization, generality._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
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Nelson Goodman on Nominalism - Dictionary of Arguments
I 118 Nominalism/Goodman: even though my system only speaks of individuals and excludes classes, it can perceive arbitrary things as an individual. The nominalistic prohibition is directed against the uncontrolled proliferation of entities on any selected individuals basis, but leaves the choice of the basis completely open. It thus allows alternative versions. >Individuals, >Classes. I 119 While the doctrine of physicalists: "no difference without physical difference" and the doctrine of the nominalists: "no difference without distinction of individuals", sound the same, they differ significantly. (VsPhysicalism: physicalism only allows one basis which is not clear at all.) >Physicalism. --- ad III 76 Nominalism/Goodman: nominalism places great importance on the etiquette: a nominalist order. Whatever reverence one may have before classes, classes are not moved from sphere to sphere, and attributes are certainly not abstracted from some objects and injected into another. >Attributes._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
G IV N. Goodman Catherine Z. Elgin Reconceptions in Philosophy and Other Arts and Sciences, Indianapolis 1988 German Edition: Revisionen Frankfurt 1989 Goodman I N. Goodman Ways of Worldmaking, Indianapolis/Cambridge 1978 German Edition: Weisen der Welterzeugung Frankfurt 1984 Goodman II N. Goodman Fact, Fiction and Forecast, New York 1982 German Edition: Tatsache Fiktion Voraussage Frankfurt 1988 Goodman III N. Goodman Languages of Art. An Approach to a Theory of Symbols, Indianapolis 1976 German Edition: Sprachen der Kunst Frankfurt 1997 |