#45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate

In this episode, we kick off a series discussing the most fundamental issue underlying all other questions: what makes things what they are? How does a proper understanding help us live well and flourish in our world?

In this podcast, we discuss:

Defining the two options: realism (universals exist) and nominalism (universals don’t exist)
What is God’s relationship to universals? Is this a threat to His uniqueness?
How does thinking well about this issue help us grow in the knowledge and love of God?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds?
Pitirim Sorokin, The Crisis of Our Age (archive edition)
Paul Gould, Beyond the Control of God? Six Views on The Problem of God and Abstract Objects

Recommended resources:

J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview
Garrett J. DeWeese and J. P. Moreland, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions
Scott Smith, Dangers of Nominalism: An Interview

Daf Yomi Gittin Daf 24 by R’ Eli Stefansky