"Metaphysical nominalism" denies the independent existence of universals, asserting that only concrete particulars are real.
Abstract categories—like “redness” or “beauty”—are linguistic conveniences, not entities. This view, championed by William of Ockham, emphasizes parsimony: why multiply entities beyond necessity?
In contrast, realism grants universals a mind-independent reality. Nominalism reshapes ontology and epistemology alike, urging a leaner metaphysical commitment that privileges observable particulars over speculative abstractions.
It’s less a denial of meaning than a demand for ontological discipline: what truly exists must be singular, tangible, and nameable. Less fanciful, less fantasy.