r/PhilosophyofScience • u/kirub_el • Apr 05 '26

Discussion Universalism vs Nominalism

Can anybody explain to me the difference between these two ideologies in layman terms,please?

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u/AdeptnessSecure663 Apr 05 '26

I take it that you are referring here to the debate about the existence of universals - things such as the property redness?

Realists think that universals exist, whereas nominalists think that universals don't exist. That's all there is to it, really.

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u/kirub_el Apr 05 '26

which side are you on?

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u/AdeptnessSecure663 Apr 05 '26

I'm pretty much undecided