Thinking Christianly #46 – Good Reasons to Believe in Things We Can’t See: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 2
Jan 15, 2026
43:42
In this episode, we continue exploring the differences between Realism and Nominalism by discussing good reasons to hold a Realist perspective.
In this podcast, we discuss:
- What good reasons do we have to believe in abstract objects that we cannot see?
- How is it that we are intuitively aware of things we cannot see?
- Why do we naturally group things together? Is this “seeing” the universal they all share?
- What are relations? Are they real? Can we see them?
- What were some of the ideas that early modern empiricists got right?
- What kinds of theological problems do we bump into when we reject realism?
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Stan Wallace, “Three Reasons to Believe in Things You Can’t See,” (four-part series)
- The first episode in this series: #45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate
Recommended resources:
- J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, chapter on Properties
- Garrett J. DeWeese and J. P. Moreland, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions, chapter on Properties
- Scott Smith, The The Dangers of Nominalism, on The Kirkwood Center Podcast