Exposing the Roots of Constructivism: Nominalism and the Ontology of Knowledge

Constructivism is linked to nominalism, which undermines knowledge in the natural sciences and ethics/religion. Smith argues that nominalism should be rejected in favor of a Platonic realism about properties, as there are many clear examples of knowledge we do have in the many different disciplines.

Format: Hardback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666912463