nominalism

Is the philosophical view that universals, such as beauty, are simply names or words that our minds attributes to these abstractions, in contrast to realismThe predominate metaphysical position held by most theologians and philosophers during the Middle Ages that universals are real and not just an abstra... more which holds these universals to be real. Nominalism is credited with being one of the first philosophical concepts that broke from the traditions of the Middle Ages leading to the EnlightenmentA broad term for 18th century European intellectual developments, including deism and other movements critical of orthodox Christianity, that are char... more.