On the problem of universals. Implications of the ontology of nominalism

The article presents origin and evolution of a medieval problem of universals. Universals are a class of mind independent entities, contrasted with individuals, postulated to ground and explain relations of qualitative identity and resemblance among individuals. The problem of universals is connected with their status; whether universals exist independently of the individuals of whom they can be predicated or if they are merely convenient ways of talking about and finding similarity among particular things. Though the problem of universals was especially considerable in the Middle Ages it was also important for philosophers of seventeenth century and it is important now, in the modern philosophy. The article shows that this issue is not only a theoretical one; it relates to fundamental questions about the status and the structure of human cognition. Taking a stand in this discussion is connected with the need of giving an answer to the question: is our knowledge grounded in reality or is it only human construction?Uniwersytet w Białymstoku9435