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Exposing the Roots of Constructivism

Nominalism and the Ontology of Knowledge
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Constructivism dominates over other theories of knowledge in much of western academia, especially the humanities and social sciences. In Exposing the Roots of Constructivism: Nominalism and the Ontology of Knowledge, R. Scott Smith argues that constructivism is linked to the embrace of nominalism, the theory that everything is particular and located in space and time. Indeed, nominalism is sufficient for a view to be constructivist. However, the natural sciences still enjoy great prestige from the "fact-value split." They are often perceived as giving us knowledge of the facts of reality, and not merely our constructs. In contrast, ethics and religion, which also have been greatly influenced by nominalism, usually are perceived as giving us just our constructs and opinions. Yet, even the natural sciences have embraced nominalism, and Smith shows that this will undermine knowledge in those disciplines as well. Indeed, the author demonstrates that, at best, nominalism leaves us with only interpretations, but at worst, it undermines all knowledge whatsoever. However, there are many clear examples of knowledge we do have in the many different disciplines, and therefore those must be due to a different ontology of properties. Thus, nominalism should be rejected. In its place, the author defends a kind of Platonic realism about properties.
R. Scott Smith is professor of philosophy and ethics at Biola University.
Introduction Chapter 1: Tropes and Some Ontological Prerequisites for Knowledge Chapter 2: Austere and Metalinguistic Nominalism, and Our Knowledge of Reality Chapter 3: Nominalism and the History of Constructivism in Western Philosophy Chapter 4: Nominalism and the Practice of Science Chapter 5: Nominalism and Moral Knowledge Chapter 6: Nominalism and Academic Religion Chapter 7: Nominalism Across Other Academic Disciplines Chapter 8: If Not Nominalism, Then What?
Professor Smith's new book is a brilliant, systematic critique of nominalism (and related views), addressing profound concerns when it comes to our knowledge of the world, values, education, the philosophy of religion, and the practice of science. It is a tour de force in metaphysics and epistemology with implications for all forms of inquiry. -- Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College
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